India would continue with eighth batting option in ODIs, says Shubman Gill

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 27 (PTI) India captain Shubman Gill on Sunday said his side would continue to have the eighth batting option in ODI cricket but different combinations will be tried to see what works for the team.

The Gill-led India returned to ODI cricket with a thumping eight-wicket hammering of the West Indies in the first match, which was powered by a record-extending 55th hundred in the format for Virat Kohli here.

“Ideally yes. We would want an eighth batting option, someone who can contribute at least 25-30 runs,” Gill said after the match.

“We have seen many times we had been in good positions at 250 for 5, and then we weren’t able to get scores that we wanted. So number eight becomes a crucial position for us. But we are open to trying

different combinations and seeing what works for us,” he said.

Gill said he wanted to finish the game as he fell sometime after competing his hundred, making 110 off 108 balls with 13 fours and a six.

“Honestly, when I got out, I thought I should have finished the game. Would have been nice to be there in the end. But yes, very satisfying innings for me,” he said.

Gill said Kohli, who also brought up his 15,000 runs in ODI cricket, is thriving in this phase of batting with more freedom.

“He is enjoying the game a lot more, playing with freedom and enjoying the game and those are the effects of his batting. He always had the game, he always had the ability to clear the boundary at will, and I think he’s doing that right now,” Gill said.

“Someone like him who’s won so many matches for the country, who’s done it over and over again, you just let him be, and you just want him to play however he feels like on the day, because when he plays well, he can win matches for you,” the Indian captain added.

Gill also praised Kuldeep Yadav for turning the game in India’s favour after West Indies had raced to 135 for no loss batting first.

“Someone like him, especially in the middle overs, if he’s bowling well, he’s a wicket-taker for us and he’s proved over again and again, and today as well,” Gill said.

“We were a bit on the back foot, with their opening partnership and how their top order was batting, but he got us back in the game, got us crucial wickets in the game, and at one point it looked like maybe they’ll get 340-350, but from there to restrict them to 300 was a tremendous effort from us.”

Kuldeep, who displayed control and variations on a flat deck to return 4/40, said he liked being in his rhythm.

“I liked my rhythm, to be very honest. I was very calm in my rhythm and just trying to bowl whatever I felt like bowling, just varying the pace, variations were superb, just reading the batters, where they’re going to hit me,” Kuldeep said.

West Indies skipper Shai Hope rued not putting enough runs on the board as they suffered a collapse in the middle of their innings.

“We could definitely put more runs on the board. When you come in on surfaces such as good surfaces here in India, you got to make sure you put a good score on the board. (We were) maybe 60 to 80 runs short, to be fair,” he said. PTI DDV DDV AH

AH