India's 27-run loss to England in the third ODI at Lord's has sparked criticism from former batter Hanuma Vihari, who questioned Shubman Gill's captaincy decisions. The series was a key test for India, but the defeat highlighted major concerns.
India struggled despite a strong performance from captain Rohit Sharma, who scored a brilliant century. England, led by Ben Duckett's 141 and Jacob Bethell's 91, reached a record ODI total of 387/3 at Lord's, the highest ever at the venue.
India's bowling options were limited as Jasprit Bumrah sat out with a knee injury. This left the team with four pace bowlers and Axar Patel as the only spinner. With just five bowlers on the field, Gill had no sixth option to work with.
Vihari expressed concerns about Gill's ability to handle a weakened bowling attack. In a YouTube video, he said, 'When everyone was getting hit, not having a sixth option became a concern for him. You should also know how to handle things when this option is not there.'
The former batter pointed out that Gill's struggles were evident in his handling of bowling changes and field placements. 'He has a lot to improve in captaincy,' Vihari said. 'His batting is outstanding, but he has to get better because the results are not coming.'
Vihari also criticized the omission of experienced wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav from the XI. I cannot understand,' he said. 'You have to go with experience in ODIs, not just youth.'
With the ODI World Cup approaching, Vihari stressed the need to prioritize experienced match-winners over untested players. He argued that experience should play a bigger role in big tournament selections, especially as high-pressure matches are ahead.
India now face their first ODI series loss to England since 2018. Vihari's comments have sparked a debate about how India approach their captaincy and team selection in crucial matches.
As the team moves closer to the World Cup, questions remain about how well they address these concerns. The recent loss could serve as a wake-up call for the selectors to make tough choices.