Shubman Gill expressed his concern over the increasing injury issues that dented India’s campaign in the United Kingdom. The men in blue failed to put out a full-strength squad due to repeated injury scares, ultimately losing the ODI series 1-2.
With Hardik Pandya already ruled out, India had hoped to test Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana, but both missed the series due to injuries, leaving the team short at crucial moments.
Even before the series began, Rana was ruled out, and from the originally named squad, Nitish too was sidelined with an injury. During the series, Washington Sundar picked up a knock, while KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah missed games due to illness and a knee issue respectively.
Gill, while addressing the post-match press conference, admitted that the frequent injury concerns are a ‘little worrying’.
“Yes, absolutely. If you look at the squad the first score we announced, out of that, at least 5 players didn’t play this match. So, one player is injured, you have to play a different combination. Two players (missing), a different combination,” Gill said.
“After every match, if a player is missing, we are missing a few tricks. If you look at the World Cup, we have played 11 matches in a row, and the players are not able to finish 2-3 matches here. We are forced to play a different combination, which we don’t think we will have to play. So, looking at all that, it is a little worrying,” Gill said.
Gill further Gill blamed his team’s inability to stem the flow of runs at the death after England amassed 388, saying the hosts’ late assault ultimately proved decisive in the visitors’ 27-run defeat in the series-deciding third ODI here on Sunday.
Reflecting on the turning point, Gill said India remained firmly in the contest until the closing stages of England’s innings, before an expensive finish with the ball swung the game decisively in the hosts’ favour.
“We were right in the game until the 45th over (when England batted). Gave away a lot of runs in the last three overs. That’s where the game went away from us,” Gill said.
