Gill argued that ‘resilience, persistence and determination’ are needed to excel in ODIs.
Gill argued that ‘resilience, persistence and determination’ are needed to excel in ODIs. He also added that if the format was so easy, India would have lifted more World Cups since 2011.
In a video shared on Instagram, Manjrekar recently called ODI the easiest format for top-order batters, citing the lack of help for bowlers and conservative field placements.
It is worth mentioning that Kohli bid adieu to Test cricket in May 2025, following a dismal BGT campaign Down Under. Against Australia, he managed just 190 runs in nine innings, and kept getting out in a similar fashion by poking at the deliveries bowled outside off stump.
Kohli finished his Test career with 9230 runs from 123 matches at an average of 46.85, including 30 hundreds and 31 half-centuries. Having called time on his T20I career in 2024, he now remains active only in the 50-over format for India.
“The Indian cricket team hasn’t won a World Cup since 2011, so if it was that (easy), we would be winning (the) World Cup every second year (edition)," Gill told reporters on the eve of the first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara.
“It’s easy to say (that) but I don’t think any format is easy. It requires a lot of resilience, a lot of persistence, and a lot of determination to be able to win big ICC tournaments," he added.
Shubman Gill was the notable omission from India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad announced last month. He looked to be a sure-shot for the marquee event after his return to the format and being given vice-captaincy and the opener's role.
However, the 26-year-old struggled to make an impact with the bat, scoring 291 runs in 15 matches at an average of 24.25 and a strike-rate of 137.26.
Consequently, Gill was axed from the side with Sanju Samson being restored as first-choice opener and Ishan Kishan selected as cover. Axar Patel was reinstated as India's vice-captain in T20Is.
Sharing his first reaction on T20 World Cup snub, Gill said: “I am where I have to be and whatever is written in my destiny no one can take that from me. A player always believes he will try his best for the country and the selectors have taken their decision."
“I always try to be in the moment and it makes life simpler," he further stated.
After the three-ODI series, India and New Zealand will engage in a five-match T20I series, which will serve as a final dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup 2026, slated to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.