Shubman Gill says there’s no ‘toxic competition’ between him and Abhishek Sharma

When asked about the growing competition in the top order between him, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Abhishek, Gill said: “Abhishek is a childhood friend of mine. Jaiswal is also a friend, I don’t think there is any toxic competition between us.”

“Obviously if you are playing for the country you want to perform in every match, and not think that ‘I wish this guy doesn’t perform’. You are playing for the country and for the team and whosoever performs you congratulate them,” he added.

Gill also defended India’s performance in the Test series loss in Australia. “I think, one series can’t define the form of a team. We have done a lot of good things in the past, consistently and continuously,” Gill said on India’s 3-1 loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

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“Definitely, we have not done what we wanted to do in the Australian series. But still, I think we have done some things right. We had the chance to draw and even win the series. If we would have won the series or even managed to draw it, we would not have been talking about this.

“It is unfair to criticise the team’s performance. We have won a World Cup (T20) and prior to that we reached the final of the ODI World Cup. We must consider those performances as well.”

India’s Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli with teammates during a training session ahead of the first ODI cricket match against England, at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, Maharashtra on Tuesday. (PTI Photo)

The 25-year-old said the three-match ODI series against England, starting from Thursday, will be a good enough preparation for the upcoming Champions Trophy.

“I think we are playing against a good side. We are not taking this as a practice for the Champions Trophy, I think it is a very important series for us and we are looking to dominate and win this series,” he said.

Varun Chakaravarthy joins squad

Varun Chakaravarthy has been added to India’s ODI squad for the England series.

The 33-year-old mystery spinner could be in line for his maiden ODI call-up and debut, shortly before the Champions Trophy due to begin in Dubai in two weeks.

Varun was the pick of the Indian bowlers in the recent five-match T20I series that the hosts won over England by a 4-1 margin. The Tamil Nadu spinner bagged 14 wickets, including a five-for, the most by an Indian bowler in a bilateral T20I series.

On Tuesday, Varun was seen bowling for over an hour against the Indian batters during the training session at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha.

Varun’s statemate and former India off-spinner R Ashwin recently lauded his exploits and batted for his inclusion in India’s squad for the ICC event in the UAE.

“I have a feeling that Varun might get a chance to play in the ODI series between India and England. I don’t think it’s an easy call to take him directly to the Champions Trophy,” Ashwin has said on his YouTube channel.