Shubman Gill flags bowling, fielding concerns after West Indies series win

India’s ODI captain Shubman Gill feels the team needs to improve their death bowling and fielding in the lead-up to the ODI World Cup 2027, following their 2-1 victory in the three-match ODI series against West Indies. The Men in Blue lost the third ODI in New Chandigarh as West Indies chased down the highest target in their ODI history of 352.

Indian bowlers struggled throughout the series with West Indies batters piling on runs in all three matches. During the third ODI, West Indies kept the required run rate in check throughout their chase, with captain Shai Hope leading from the front with his heroic innings of 162* (143).

Assessing the team’s bowling performance throughout the series, Shubman Gill said that the bowlers need to be sure whether they’re attacking or defending in the death and set the fielding accordingly. 

"I feel sometimes we are not really clear whether we are attacking or we are defending, especially when we are bowling in the death overs. One-day[ers] is 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, you know, bowling kind of like middle overs. I think these are some areas which definitely we need to be better at,” said Gill in the post-match presentation.

India fielded an inexperienced bowling attack throughout the series as Mohammed Siraj remained benched in the first two ODIs, while they handed debuts to Auqib Nabi and Anshul Kamboj in the last two matches.

I think our fielding could be much better: Gill

The Indian skipper also highlighted the team’s poor fielding show in the series.

"Decently pleased [with the progress]. But I think there are still some areas [of improvement] - I think our fielding could be much better. Overall, in the series, I think we dropped six or seven catches, which is not a good sign leading up to the World Cup. You want your fielding to be top-notch,” said Gill.

Meanwhile, India will next take on West Indies in a five-match T20I series beginning on Tuesday, October 6 in Lucknow. The Men in Blue will next travel to New Zealand to play five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests.