Gill Critiques Middle-Overs Strategy After ODI Loss to New Zealand

In the aftermath of India's defeat to New Zealand in the second ODI, captain Shubman Gill critiqued the team's middle-overs bowling strategy, suggesting they could have been more aggressive. Despite early successes, New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell and Will Young led a strong chase, overshadowing KL Rahul's century. Gill's reflections on missed opportunities and dropped catches highlight areas for improvement as the series heads into a decisive final match. Read on for a detailed recap of the match and insights from both captains.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 14, 2026, 23:06 IST

Gill's Insights on Bowling Strategy

After India's defeat against New Zealand in the second ODI, captain Shubman Gill expressed concerns regarding his team's performance in the middle overs, suggesting that they could have adopted a more aggressive bowling approach during that phase. Despite securing two early wickets, India's chances dwindled as Daryl Mitchell (131*) and Will Young (87) led New Zealand to a comfortable seven-wicket victory, successfully chasing down a target of 285 with 15 balls remaining. KL Rahul's impressive 112* off 92 balls was overshadowed by the loss, setting the stage for an exciting series finale on Sunday.

Mitchell's Take on the Match

In the post-match presentation, Mitchell highlighted the team's inability to secure wickets during the middle overs. He noted, "With five fielders in, failing to take wickets in the middle overs complicates matters, even if we had added 15-20 more runs. Once a partnership is established, the set batsman must capitalize, as newcomers find it challenging to score freely. Ultimately, we did not set a competitive target, although our bowling was commendable in the initial overs."

Gill's Reflection on Bowling and Fielding

Gill remarked that after claiming two early wickets, the strategy was to apply pressure on the New Zealand batters, especially in the first 10 to 15 overs when the ball was favorable for bowlers. He stated, "However, after 20-25 overs, the pitch tends to settle, and we could have been bolder in our bowling during the middle overs. Taking a few more risks might have changed the outcome." He also addressed the issue of dropped catches, particularly Prasidh Krishna's missed opportunity with Mitchell, emphasizing the need for improvement in fielding, stating, "In this format, missing chances often leads to defeat."

Match Summary: New Zealand's Chase

In the match, New Zealand chose to bowl first after winning the toss. Rohit Sharma (24 off 38 balls) and Shubman Gill (56 off 53 balls) established a solid 70-run opening partnership. However, they faltered due to a stellar bowling performance from Kristian Clarke (3/56), who dismissed Rohit, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer. KL Rahul's partnerships with Ravindra Jadeja (27) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (20) helped India reach 284/7 in their 50 overs. During the chase, New Zealand lost two wickets for 43 runs, but a significant 162-run partnership between Mitchell (131* off 117 balls) and Young (87 off 98 balls), along with a 78-run stand with Glenn Phillips (32* off 25 balls), led to a decisive victory, with Mitchell earning the 'Player of the Match' accolade.