Boria Majumdar
When Shubman Gill looks around the dressing room at Edgbaston today, he will see close to 1,000 ODIs’ worth of experience around him. That, in itself, is enough to instil a sense of calm and control. He will have Rohit Sharma, his opening partner and former captain, to lean on for advice, and Virat Kohli, someone who has seen almost every situation the game can throw at him. He will have the assurance of Jasprit Bumrah and the composure of KL Rahul. That collective experience is what will help Gill as he begins the process of getting Indian cricket back on track after a dismal few weeks in Ireland and England.
First things first, T20 cricket is not the format of choice at the moment. Had it not been for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, few would have watched the series. So, while I understand the concern over India failing to win a single game and the disappointment that followed, the meltdown has been a touch over the top. When Gautam Gambhir and his team win bilateral series, we treat it as a fait accompli.
So what if they have won bilateral contests? The expectation is to win World Cups and ICC events. Ireland and England were bilateral contests too, yet the narrative has now completely flipped, with people calling for the heads of Gambhir and Shreyas Iyer. You do not sack coaches overnight, especially one who won you a World Cup just three months earlier. You identify the areas that need correcting, make the necessary adjustments and move on.
That is why the current series assumes such importance. India’s experienced players are back, and that alone adds a sense of calm to the proceedings. They have all experienced adversity and know how to respond when the pressure mounts. It will not be easy for Rohit and Kohli. England’s attack, featuring Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue, will ask serious questions of them. But that is precisely what makes it compelling. Here are two players who have nothing left to prove, yet are willing to put themselves through the grind in preparation for the 2027 World Cup. It is a chance to witness their hunger, resilience and enduring love for the game.
For Gill, this is an opportunity to establish a clear 50-over template. He has the chance to build a side capable of mounting a genuine challenge at the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, identify what works and what does not, and fine-tune the squad accordingly.
These are significant games for Gambhir too. Indian cricket fandom is relentless and, even for the mentally strongest, constant scrutiny takes its toll. Gambhir will insist he does not care, but the reality is that no one enjoys negativity, and no one likes losing. These three matches mark the beginning of India’s preparations for the 2027 World Cup in earnest. They should also expose the team’s shortcomings in overseas conditions, giving the management valuable lessons to work on over the next two years.
It promises to be an engaging series, and with so much experience back in the dressing room, India should have exactly what elite sport demands in pressure situations: calm under fire.
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