'Tailenders are not the best batsmen. But...': Shubman Gill blames lower middle order as India bowled out in 44 overs

From 181/4, India cricket team">India cricket team">India were bowled out for 233 in 44 overs in the second ODI of the series against England. At Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, England levelled the three-ODI series 1-1. Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Shivam Dube registered scores of 2, 1 and 0. A well-set Shreyas Iyer was put under pressure and he departed for 71-ball 66. An unbeaten cameo of Jasprit Bumrah infused some life into the game but India couldn't play out the full 50 overs. After the four-wicket defeat, Shubman Gill blamed lower middle order batters for not posting a fighting total. 

“I mean, our tailenders are not the best batsmen. But I think we expected a bit more from our lower middle order and we were not able to capitalize on the start that we got. But hopefully, the next time we get there, we'll try to build some small partnerships and take it on from there,” Gill said in the post-match press conference.

Kohli, Iyer’s fifties in vain, batting collapse haunts India

After being asked to bat first, Gill departed after getting a good start. Rohit Sharma struggled and eventually the pressure got to him. Virat Kohli batted well, scored a half-century, before falling to Jofra Archer. Ishan Kishan who replaced KL Rahul in the lineup departed for a single-digit score. Iyer scored a half-century but he seemed to ran out of partners before becoming Gus Atkinson's second victim of the day.

Root takes charge of run chase after early wickets

In the run chase, England lost both openers early. Bumrah struck with the first ball whereas Jacob Bethell fell to Prasidh Krishna. Skipper Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Jos Buttler got starts but couldn't carry on. Joe Root took the conservative approach in the run chase of 234. Root and Will Jacks shared a 72-run partnership. Jacks departed for a 44-ball 30. Then, Atkinson contributed with a fiery 16-ball 23 not out. Root remained unbeaten for 99 off 133 balls, featuring nine fours as the hosts won by six wickets with 35 balls to spare.

The decider of the ODI series will be played at Lord's, London, on July 19.