Shubman Gill Indirectly Blames Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar And Axar Patel For India's Loss

Axar Patel and Shubman Gill [Source: AFP]

Team India failed to disrupt Joe Root’s defiance as England fought its way to a four-wicket win in the second ODI of the three-match series. The outcome helped England bring the series to levelling terms after losing the opening game earlier this week in Birmingham. 

After the match, losing skipper Shubman Gill indirectly held India’s lower middle-order accountable for not capitalizing the attacking start laid out by their top three batters. It is worth noting that Gill initiated India’s aggression, and Rohit Sharma conjured a crafty partnership with fellow senior pro Virat Kohli to take the visitors past the 100-run mark.

Shubman Gill blames lower middle-order for not assisting Shreyas Iyer

By the time Team India lost both its openers, they reached a commendable 104-2 in less than 18 overs. While Ishan Kishan fell for just a single in his comeback ODI at 111-3, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer shared a pacey 67-run stand for the fourth wicket to steer India towards the 200-run mark. 

Also Read- Shubman Gill Nears No. 1 Spot; Joe Root, Axar Patel Gain Big In ICC ODI Rankings

However, Kohli’s dismissal sparked a colossal middle and lower-order collapse, with no other batter offering a well-set Shreyas any further assistance up until the conclusion of the innings. 

Star all-rounders Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel all fell for single-digit scores as India stumbled from 178-3 to 210-8, and eventually to 233 all out in 44 overs. 

Not mincing any words during the post-match presentation ceremony, Indian captain Shubman Gill blamed the lower and middle order for not playing their part after Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer’s half-centuries.

He said “Our tailenders are not the best batsmen but we expected a bit more from our lower middle order and we were not able to capitalize on the start that we got. But hopefully the next time we get there we'll try to build some partnerships and take it on from there.”

Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Shivam combine to score just 3

Compatible to Shubman Gill’s claims, none of the three Indian all-rounders stuck around long enough to support well-set half-centurion Shreyas Iyer in the backend of the innings. While Washington Sundar and Axar Patel were dismissed for single-digit scores by Saqib Mahmood and Jofra Archer respectively, hard-hitting Shivam Dube fell for a first-ball duck.

Tailenders Gurnoor Brar and Prasidh Krishna also failed to make any impact, but a fiery 20-run cameo from Jasprit Bumrah took India to a competitive 233-run total, with Shreyas concluding his stay at 66 off 71 balls. 

It is worth noting that both Washington Sundar and Axar Patel struck match-winning half-centuries together for India just a couple of days ago at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Joe Root wins it for England, enforces decider

Batting first, Shubman Gill and co. bundled out for just 233 in 44 overs, despite featuring fighting half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. 

For England, fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson picked up three wickets each in the innings.

Chasing 235, England slipped to a precarious 125-5 around the halfway stage, but Joe Root fortified his end with a sublime 99* from 133 balls, sharing crucial partnerships with Will Jacks and Atkinson to steer England home with four wickets and nearly six overs to spare.

With series levelled 1-1, Shubman Gill’s troops will take on England in the third ODI on July 19 in London. 

Also Read- Watch- Gurnoor Brar Gives Animated Send-Off To Harry Brook