After West Indies Loss, Gill Calls For Sharper Fielding, Death Bowling

CHANDIGARH-India skipper Shubman Gill expressed overall satisfaction with his team’s 2-1 series-winning performance against the West Indies despite the five-wicket loss in the third and final ODI on October 3, but admitted that fielding and death-overs bowling remain key areas that need immediate fine-tuning.

Opting to bat, India piled up 351 for seven, thanks to a dominant second-wicket partnership of 137 between Rohit Sharma (92) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (57), followed by KL Rahul’s unbeaten 129 off 87 balls, his career-best score in the format.

The total, however, proved insufficient as West Indies skipper Shai Hope struck an unbeaten 162 at a strike rate of 113.29, guiding the visitors to their highest-ever successful ODI run chase and their first win over India in the format since 2023.

Gill said India had the game under control for much of the chase but felt the team needed greater clarity in its approach during the final overs.

“A lot of boxes ticked. I think there are still some areas that definitely need some fine-tuning. I was very happy with the total. I think the game was in control. But being behind four overs with this team and then in the last, I think they took the game away from us. Had we not been shortened the overs, the game might have gone to the last over,” Gill said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

He said India also needs to be clearer about whether to attack or defend during the death overs, particularly when the opposition has wickets in hand.

“Death bowling as well. I feel, sometimes we are not really clear whether we are attacking or we are defending, especially when we are bowling the death overs. One day, such a game, if the opposition is five or six down, you are never really sure what fields to take, whether we are going for the death too early or we are still bowling kind of like middle overs. I think these are some areas which definitely we need to be better at,” he said.

Looking ahead, Gill said India must raise its fielding standards, particularly with the World Cup in mind.

“Decently pleased, I would say, but as I said, I think there are still some areas. Our fielding could be much better. Overall, in the series, I think we dropped around six or seven catches, which is not a good sign leading up to the World Cup. You want your fielding to be top-notch,” he said. (IANS)