The limited-overs tour of India by the England squad has been disappointing yet again. In addition to losing the first two matches of the ODI series, they also lost the T20I series. The third ODI is being played at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium with the intention of at least winning the series before the Champions Trophy.
Ben Duckett, England’s opener, has made a significant comment stating that, should they win the Champions Trophy, the outcome in India is irrelevant. Many experts, including England legend Kevin Pietersen, have taken notice of this statement and expressed disapproval of it. In an interview with Star Sports, Pietersen said that Duckett’s remarks should be disapproved of and that they also exposed the Jos Buttler-led team’s subpar play.
The use of certain words need to be discouraged. You would say those things during a press conference. His argument that defeating India will have no bearing whatsoever on their chances of winning the Champions Trophy makes some sense to me. And I hope that England can flip the switch and turn on the tap so that all of their batters can get hundreds no matter what they do and their bowlers can take wickets whenever they bowl. That’s a very clear indication of what the dressing room believes. It doesn’t matter if they believe they can just show up here in India.
According to Kevin Pietersen, the outcomes are irrelevant.
You are playing for your nation. There are plenty of cricket players in England who would adore playing in front of these crowds, coming to India, and being in your shoes. As a former player, it’s stuff I wish I still possessed. I long to perform in front of these audiences once more. That’s why it’s so frustrating to hear things like that. As far as England is concerned, the 2010 T20 World Champion continued, “My goodness, I just hope there is that switch or that tap of runs that they can just turn on because they don’t seem to care.”
Regarding the present game, India has set a goal of 357 thanks to outstanding performances from Shubman Gill, who also scored a fantastic century, as well as half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer.