Ben Duckett found himself in the middle of a social media storm on Tuesday, February 12, after his bold comments about England’s ODI series against India. The left-handed opener stated that England wasn’t too concerned about losing the series 0-3 as long as they peaked at the right time and won the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. His remarks quickly went viral, drawing criticism from fans and experts who questioned England’s approach to bilateral series.
Realizing the controversy his statement had sparked, Ben Duckett was quick to clarify his stance. He emphasized that playing against India was invaluable preparation for the Champions Trophy but reiterated that England’s primary focus remained on winning the marquee tournament.
“To be clear, we want results as a team, and playing India is one of the biggest series there is! But the Champions Trophy and peaking at the right time is what we’re aiming for,” he explained.
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This isn’t the first time Duckett has courted controversy with his comments. In 2024, he claimed that England’s aggressive “Bazball” approach had forced other teams to rethink their strategies in Test cricket. His comments came after Yashasvi Jaiswal played an attacking innings in Rajkot, scoring a rapid hundred that some attributed to India’s own evolution in response to England’s bold tactics.
Duckett’s performances in the ongoing ODI series against India have also been under scrutiny. While he has shown promise with aggressive starts, former England captain Kevin Pietersen has been vocal about his frustration with Duckett’s inability to convert them into big scores. Speaking on Star Sports after England’s second ODI loss, Pietersen did not hold back.
“It seems to me there’s just a lack of hunger and a lack of desire to go and get that 130, 140. It’s too easy to get 40, 50, 60 and be satisfied with that. This team should be scoring 350 today. They might still win this game, but they should be ruthless enough to push for 360, because they’re good enough,” Kevin Pietersen said.
He further compared Duckett’s approach to that of Joe Root, praising the senior batter’s hunger for big scores. “Look at what Duckett did—should it have been him going on? Could he have pushed for a bigger score? Absolutely. But when you see someone like Joe Root, you know he burns inside when he misses out. That’s the difference. Getting out for 60 wouldn’t sit well with him, but I’m not sure the same can be said about others,” Pietersen added.
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Despite the criticism, Duckett is expected to be a key figure in England’s Champions Trophy campaign. He is likely to open alongside Phil Salt, and England’s success will largely depend on the kind of starts their openers provide. The team will hope that Duckett channels this scrutiny into motivation and delivers on the big stage when it matters the most.
