Gill Calls for Improvement in India’s Fielding and Death Bowling Ahead of 2027 World Cup

India captain Shubman Gill has called for improvement in the team’s fielding and death bowling despite securing a series win over the West Indies in the ODI series. With the 2027 World Cup approaching, Gill believes India still have several areas to fine-tune.

Speaking after the third ODI, Gill said the team needs greater clarity in its approach during the final overs, particularly when deciding whether to attack or defend.

“Sometimes we are not really clear whether we are attacking or defending, especially when we are bowling in the death overs,” Gill said. “If the opposition is five or six down, you are never really sure what fields to take, whether we are going for the death too early or still bowling kind of like middle overs.”

India experimented with several bowling options during the series in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who was away on Asian Games duty, and the injured Hardik Pandya. Mohammed Siraj played only one match and did not bowl in the death overs, while Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Naman Dhir and debutant Auqib Nabi were given opportunities in the back end of the innings.

Gill said the experience could prove valuable as India continue to identify backup options ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

Fielding Remains a Major Concern

While Gill was pleased with India's overall progress, he admitted that the team's fielding needs significant improvement.

India dropped six or seven catches during the three-match series, something Gill described as a “not good sign” ahead of the World Cup.

“I think our fielding could be much better. Overall in the series, I think we dropped six or seven catches, which is not a good sign leading up to the World Cup. You want your fielding to be top-notch,” he said.

The captain also highlighted India's slow over-rate in the third ODI. After falling four overs behind, India were forced to bowl the final deliveries with only four fielders outside the circle, rather than the usual five.

Gill felt the penalty played a role in West Indies taking control late in the game.

“I think the game was in control. But being behind four overs, in the last [few overs] I think they took the game away from us. Had we not been short on the overs, I think the game might have gone to the last over,” he said.

Gill Named Player of the Series

Despite missing out with the bat in the third ODI, Gill was named Player of the Series after scoring 334 runs across the three matches. His standout performance came during India's successful chase of 406, when he scored an unbeaten double-century.

Gill was dismissed early in the final ODI after edging Jayden Seales' delivery to Shai Hope, who completed a spectacular one-handed catch.

The India captain admitted he was disappointed to get out cheaply but felt there was little he could have done differently on the delivery.

“You are always disappointed whenever you get out early, but I think today I don't think there could have been much that I would have done on that ball,” Gill said.

With limited ODIs remaining before the 2027 World Cup, India will now look to sharpen their fielding, improve their death-overs execution and build greater clarity around their bowling combinations.