India captain Shubman Gill conceded that his side failed to seize control in the middle overs, a lapse that proved costly in India’s seven-wicket defeat to New Zealand in Rajkot on Wednesday. Gill was candid in the post-match presentation, underlining how crucial wickets in that phase are to stem opposition momentum.

“We couldn’t pick up any wickets in the middle overs. With five fielders in, if you don’t keep taking wickets in the middle overs, it becomes very difficult… And if you don’t pick up wickets in the middle overs, it’s very difficult to stop a target,” Shubman  Gill said, reflecting on a period where New Zealand consolidated.

India’s 284/7 was built around KL Rahul’s unbeaten 112 off 92 balls — his eighth ODI hundred — and a steady fifty from Gill. But Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 131 and Will Young’s 87, stitched into a 162-run third-wicket stand off 152 balls, ultimately decided the contest.

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Shubman Gill stressed the importance of partnerships on such wickets. “As soon as you have a partnership, the set batsman has to make it big because it’s not easy for the batsman coming in to score freely,” he noted, pointing out that once Mitchell and Young settled, the game swung sharply.

India did start well with the ball, Gill added, but the middle overs were expensive. “We bowled well in the first 10 overs. We tried to squeeze them down and put them under pressure, but they batted really well in the middle overs.” He also admitted the wicket eased after 20-25 overs, suggesting India could have been bolder with their bowling plans.

Fielding lapses compounded the issue. “Fielding is an aspect we are always trying to improve. If you don’t take your chances in this format, it always makes you lose,” Shubman Gill said, lamenting missed opportunities that could have changed the match.

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New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell lauded a complete performance, praising Mitchell’s innings. “It is a complete performance from us… Daryl and Young then took the game away from India,” he said, also singling out debutant Jayden Lennox for a mature showing in challenging conditions.

For India, the takeaway is clear: control the middle overs, tighten the fielding, and back bowlers who can strike when pressure matters most. The series now moves to Indore for decider.