Asked by Webfit News about India’s record at the Auckland venue and their plans for the conditions, Shubman Gill said execution would be decisive.
Asked by Webfit News about India’s record at the Auckland venue and their plans for the conditions, Shubman Gill said execution would be decisive. A follow-up about the toss brought a lighter response.
By Webfit News | 3 November 2026
AUCKLAND: India captain Shubman Gill says his side will trust their skills rather than adopt a special strategy for Eden Park, backing his players to deliver ahead of the opening ODI against New Zealand.
Responding to a question from Webfit News about India’s previous results at the venue, the conditions and whether those experiences would influence their approach, Gill kept his answer direct.
“No special strategy,” he said. “I think the main aim is to be able to execute our skills at the best of our ability.”
Gill said India’s quality gave him confidence heading into Wednesday’s match.
“If we are able to do that even 80, 90% close to our ability, we should be able to win this game,” he said.
Webfit News then asked whether Gill placed much importance on the toss.
“Toss is something that is not in our control,” he replied, acknowledging that his luck with the coin had not been particularly good.
“Whatever I want to do, I tell the team the opposite.”
The remark drew a lighter moment from a discussion otherwise focused on adapting to New Zealand conditions, managing India’s resources and preparing for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Gill acknowledged that Eden Park presents challenges beyond the pitch itself.
The ground’s unusual shape requires careful field placements, particularly for players with limited experience at the venue. Identifying the areas where the ball travels most often would be an important part of settling into the contest.
“The dimensions are a bit weird,” he said. “It’ll be a challenge for us to be able to find the right placement for the fielders.”
“Hopefully, we are able to find those pockets sooner than they do.”
For batters, the short straight boundaries offer opportunities. Gill said the decision to attack would depend on the individual player, the delivery and the match situation.
Conditions later in the evening could create another adjustment. He highlighted the combination of falling temperatures and wind as a challenge for players more accustomed to warmer weather.
Gill also outlined India’s thinking on the batting order, saying the top four were largely settled while positions five and six would remain flexible.
With right-handed batters occupying the top four, India could promote Axar Patel when a left-handed option would help. KL Rahul’s entry point would depend on the platform established and the demands of the innings.
“For us, five and six is a bit floating,” Gill said.
He explained that the number of overs remaining and the match situation mattered more than assigning a permanent position to each batter.
Gill said he was happy with India’s top and middle order, while Hardik Pandya’s eventual return would provide greater balance further down the line-up.
Asked about Pandya’s availability, Gill described the all-rounder’s combination of batting and seam bowling as difficult to replace.
He pointed to Pandya’s ability to bowl at different stages, including with the new ball and during the closing overs.
“Not many players in the world possess those qualities,” Gill said.
The captain said there had been multiple conversations about Pandya’s return, but further niggles had interrupted his progress.
Gill hoped he would regain fitness, play domestic cricket and return to the international side. He did not offer a firm comeback date.
Gill gave a detailed explanation of why India are exploring tall, fast bowling options for the middle overs.
Once the ball stops swinging or seaming, he said, an attack needs other ways to make scoring difficult. Pace and bounce can challenge batters even when the surface offers little assistance.
Drawing on his own batting experience, Gill said facing a tall bowler operating above 140km/h demands more precise shot selection and increases the risk involved in attacking.
Accuracy, however, remains essential.
“Hitting the right areas is the key,” he said.
The aim is to identify bowlers who can restrict scoring while continuing to create wicket-taking opportunities, rather than simply waiting for mistakes.
Gill said the 2027 World Cup would remain in India’s thinking throughout the series.
He viewed the tour as valuable preparation because some New Zealand conditions could offer a closer comparison with South Africa than other destinations where India play.
“It will definitely be at the back of our mind,” he said.
For both batters and bowlers, adapting across venues would provide useful experience. India must also balance those preparations with the Test commitments that follow.
Gill nevertheless sounded satisfied with the immediate build-up. Players had arrived in time to prepare, training had been productive and senior members of the squad were sharing their experience.
“Nothing special, but I think the preparations have been pretty good,” he said.
New Zealand holds personal significance for Gill as the country where he made his international debut.
He spoke warmly about returning and the reception he had received.
“The people are also very nice, very welcoming, very warm,” he said.
India begin the ODI series at Eden Park on Wednesday, 4 November. For Gill, the priority is clear: adjust quickly and turn preparation into performance
India captain Shubman Gill backs his side’s skills at Eden Park, outlines a flexible middle order and explains why pace and bounce matter in the build-up to the 2027 World Cup.
By Webfit News | 3 November 2026
AUCKLAND: Shubman Gill is keeping India’s approach to the opening ODI against New Zealand straightforward: trust the preparation, adapt to the conditions and execute their skills. Winning the toss, he joked, might require a different strategy.
Speaking at Eden Park ahead of Wednesday’s series opener, Gill was asked whether India needed a special plan to improve their record at the Auckland ground.
“No special strategy,” he said. “I think the main aim is to be able to execute our skills at the best of our ability.”
Gill expressed confidence that India had enough quality to win if they performed close to their potential.
“If we are able to do that even 80, 90% close to our ability, we should be able to win this game,” he said.
A follow-up question about the toss brought a lighter response from the India captain.
“Toss is something that is not in our control,” Gill said, before acknowledging that his recent luck had not been particularly good.
“Whatever I want to do, I tell the team the opposite.”
The exchange came amid questions about how India would handle Eden Park’s unusual dimensions and changing conditions, with the match extending into the evening.
Gill’s message was that preparation and execution would remain more important than relying on the coin.
Gill said Eden Park’s shape would test both India’s batting decisions and their field placements.
With limited personal experience at the venue, he highlighted the importance of quickly identifying where the ball travels most frequently and positioning fielders accordingly.
“The dimensions are a bit weird,” he said. “It’ll be a challenge for us to be able to find the right placement for the fielders.”
“Hopefully, we are able to find those pockets sooner than they do.”
The short straight boundaries also offer an obvious temptation for batters. Gill acknowledged that opportunity, while stressing that each player would approach it according to their own strengths and the match situation.
For the fielding side, the challenge extends beyond the boundary measurements. Gill said cold, windy conditions late in the evening would require adjustment, particularly as temperatures fall.
Gill offered a clear explanation of India’s batting plans: the top four are largely settled, while the No. 5 and No. 6 positions will remain flexible.
With right-handed batters occupying the top four, India could promote Axar Patel when a left-handed option would help. KL Rahul’s entry point would also depend on the platform established and what the innings required.
“For us, five and six is a bit floating,” Gill said.
Rather than attaching too much importance to a fixed position, he said the number of overs remaining and the state of the game would guide those decisions.
Gill said he was happy with the top and middle order. He also indicated that Hardik Pandya’s eventual return would strengthen the balance further.
Asked about Pandya’s availability, Gill described the all-rounder as a player whose combination of skills is difficult to replace.
He pointed to Pandya’s ability to bowl at different stages of an innings, from the new ball through to the closing overs, alongside his batting.
“Not many players in the world possess those qualities,” Gill said.
The captain said there had been multiple conversations about Pandya’s return, but further niggles had interrupted his progress.
Gill hoped the all-rounder would regain fitness, play domestic cricket and then return to the international side. He did not provide a firm comeback date.
One of Gill’s most detailed answers concerned India’s search for wicket-taking options when the ball gets older.
When swing and seam movement disappear, he explained, bowlers need other ways to challenge batters. Height, pace and bounce can make scoring harder even on a good batting surface.
Drawing on his own experience batting in the middle overs, Gill said tall fast bowlers operating above 140km/h can reduce a batter’s scoring options and increase the risk involved in attacking.
But speed alone is not enough.
“Hitting the right areas is the key,” he said.
For Gill, identifying bowlers who can combine those qualities is part of building an attack capable of taking wickets throughout an ODI innings.
Gill said the 2027 World Cup would be at the back of India’s minds during the series.
He viewed New Zealand as a useful preparation ground because some conditions could resemble those India expect in South Africa, particularly compared with other places they play.
“It will definitely be at the back of our mind,” he said.
The series offers experience for both batters and bowlers, while the wider tour also requires India to balance white-ball preparation with Test commitments.
Gill’s immediate assessment, however, was positive. Players had arrived in time to prepare, practice sessions had been productive and experienced members of the squad were sharing their knowledge.
“Nothing special, but I think the preparations have been pretty good,” he said.
New Zealand also holds a special place in Gill’s career as the country where he made his international debut.
He spoke warmly about returning and the welcome he had received.
“The people are also very nice, very welcoming, very warm,” he said.
India begin the series at Eden Park on Wednesday, 4 November, with Gill hoping that familiarity, preparation and a settled batting core can deliver a winning start.
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