India’s ODI series loss to New Zealand was disappointing and historic, and the captain did not shy away from the truth. After the defeat in Indore, Gill admits India were second best, accepting that New Zealand outperformed his team in all departments and fully deserved the series win.
Honest Assessment After a Historic Defeat
New Zealand ended a 37-year wait by winning an ODI series in India for the first time, and Gill admits India were second best despite both teams missing key players. While New Zealand were without a few regulars, India also lacked stars like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. However, Gill made it clear that injuries were not an excuse. According to him, India had a strong enough squad to win the series but failed to deliver when it mattered.
The series was level at 1-1 going into the final match, and India hoped to fix their problems in the middle overs. Unfortunately, those issues continued. On Sunday, India conceded 191 runs between the 11th and 40th overs while taking just one wicket. Across the series, the middle-overs bowling numbers were poor, and Gill admits India were second best in controlling that phase of the game.
New Zealand’s batters made full use of this weakness, building partnerships and keeping the scoreboard moving. Gill openly said that India were outplayed in bowling, batting, and fielding, and once again Gill admits India were second best because New Zealand executed their plans better. Their batters converted starts into big scores, while India struggled to apply pressure.
This ODI loss came not long after New Zealand’s Test team defeated India 3-0 in 2024, adding to the disappointment. Still, Gill admits India were second best and believes such defeats can offer important lessons for the future.
Spin Struggles and Costly Fielding Errors
One of the major concerns from the series was India’s spin bowling. Ravindra Jadeja failed to take a single wicket in the three matches, while Kuldeep Yadav managed only three wickets at a high average. Discussing this, Gill admits India were second best but defended Kuldeep, calling him a strike bowler who simply had an off series.
Jadeja’s form raised bigger questions. He has taken only one wicket in his last five ODIs and has not scored an ODI half-century since 2020. At home, his last fifty came way back in 2013. These struggles hurt India’s balance, and Gill admits India were second best in key moments because of this lack of impact from senior players.
Fielding was another area where India fell short. Dropped catches in every match made life harder for the bowlers, especially on batting-friendly pitches. Gill was honest in his assessment, saying that India’s fielding was below the required standard. He noted that New Zealand saved at least 15 to 20 runs in the final match alone, and Gill admits India were second best because such small margins made a big difference.
He also pointed out that it is difficult for bowlers to create chances if catches are not taken. New Zealand, on the other hand, backed their bowlers with sharp fielding and converted opportunities. In Gill’s view, Gill admits India were second best because New Zealand were more disciplined and consistent across all three games.
Despite the setback, Gill believes these tough series help teams grow. By accepting that Gill admits India were second best, India can now focus on improving their middle-overs bowling, spin effectiveness, and fielding standards ahead of future challenges.
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