In the upcoming three-match ODI series, which is set to start on February 6, India will take on England. For Vidarbha, Karun Nair enjoyed an outstanding Vijay Hazare Trophy ahead of the current white-ball series. There was intense pressure on the Board of Control for Cricket in India to put him in the 16-man squad for the ODI series against England after he amassed an incredible 779 runs in eight innings. He was not selected by the selectors, though, which infuriated the cricket community.
Shubman Gill, the current vice captain of the ODI team, sympathised with Karun and his predicament. He underlined, though, that none of the middle-order hitters in the present lineup should be replaced because they were all playing well together the last time.
“He undoubtedly did a fantastic job at the Vijay Hazare Trophy. But you also have to think about who he would have taken his place. In the existing configuration, the players are already doing well. All middle-order batsmen scored 400–500 runs in the ODI World Cup. Since then, we have only played three ODIs together. Nobody has received a longer run. In the final of the ODI World Cup, we lost. If you exclude that performance, the team as a whole has been playing regularly. Gill said, “I believe the players who are already there have been performing,” according to the Hindustan Times.
All successful teams support their players: Shubman Gill.
Gill was adamant that every player in the national setup should be given an equal opportunity before a replacement is considered, notwithstanding the terrible circumstances surrounding exceptional performers in the domestic circuit.
“Players who have performed well in domestic cricket were unable to secure a spot in the squad, which is regrettable. Every player should have a position, in my opinion, if they choose to enter. If the player is already performing and is asked to leave, that is unfair. We will thereafter be unable to assemble a reliable staff. We don’t want our players to start feeling insecure because every successful team supports them,” Gill continued.
The three-match One-Day International series between England and India is scheduled to start on February 6. Following the conclusion of the current white-ball series’ 50-over leg, India will go to the United Arab Emirates for the Champions Trophy.
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