BANG BANG stuff from Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer in Nagpur run-fest

The shift from T20 internationals to ODIs is a big one. The ball colour is the same, white, but the mindset and skills are different. From 20 overs to 50 overs, there is need for a different kind of play. In Nagpur on Thursday evening and night, two things stood out, even minus Virat Kohli nit in the Playing 11 due to a knee niggle and Rohit Sharma failing to score big runs, Team India thumped England with ease.

After having sealed the T20 series, to be on turbo boost mode in the first ODI, a first after the ICC ODI World Cup in 2023 is big. For those who may have been worried with so many changes being made, the cricket on view from India was top-class. To hand out ODI debut caps to Yashasvi Jaiswal and Harshit Rana and not play Rishabh Pant as well, it is clear the think-tank is ready to tinker with the 11. In the end, if this match was all about trial and error, the errors were few. What mattered was the trial succeeded and offers skipper Rohit and coach Gautam Gambhir sufficient inputs before the Champions Trophy.

This is in sync with what Rohit had said a day earlier at the press conference, use the three ODIs against England as a tune-up for the Champions Trophy in Dubai later this month. For those who are used to seeing Shubman Gill flourish in the ODI format, he was on song today. His batting was bold and beautiful. Most important, he had been pushed up to the No.3 slot, something reserved for King Kohli.

Times are changing. This is the new Indian mindset in white ball where many heroes are emerging. To be sure, Gill was unlucky he did not hammer a 100. But then, the way he tore apart Jofra Archer was scary. If Gill was all boom and bang, what does one say about Shreyas Iyer, who batted to a great half ton. Definitely one of the unluckiest Indian cricketers, Shreyas was returning to international cricket after a long break. His half ton came like a breeze and the way he forced the pace and also took on Archer was captivating.

Shreyas has talked of wanting to do a few things for himself in cricket. No, it is not about being selfish but how it is important for him to perform. He had done well in the last ODI World Cup in 2023. That seems like ages ago. Last year, he shone for KKR in the IPL as well. The return in 2025 is defining for Shreyas as even now not all selectors were in consonance when he was picked for this series and the Champions Trophy, says the grapevine. Sometimes, it is best to let just performance speak. And that came through not just his batting but also brilliant fielding when England struggled to score runs.

If the batters were a delight where Axar Patel was also promoted up the order, he also banged a half ton.  Harshit Rana was on fire. He looked expensive at start but the transition on a twin-paced pitch was nice as he took three wickets. Rana has been touted as Gambhir’s boy but there is no doubting his talent, like Yashasvi Jaiswal. These two are all format players and will be important for India over the next three years at least. Two things, India are building a side for the ICC T20 World Cup in 2026 as well as the ODI World Cup in 2027. If there is plenty of talent on view and firing, it’s a great sign.

Of course, the injury to Kohli, a rarity of sorts and Rohit flopping are worrying. Father Time, the clock is ticking.