IND vs NZ: Rift in Indian ODI team’s dressing room? Shubman Gill finally reacts to reports with "people who always try to" statement

Shubman Gill issued a candid press-conference on various topics ahead of India’s white-ball series against New Zealand.

As India prepares for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting January 11, 2026, at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, captain Shubman Gill reacted to rumours suggesting tensions or an unfavourable atmosphere in the team’s dressing room.

The young leader, who also captains India in Tests, used the pre-series press conference to emphasise the environment, particularly highlighting the invaluable presence of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Gill praised the duo for making his captaincy responsibilities significantly easier, crediting their vast experience and composure in high-pressure situations.

He described them as pillars who provide tactical insights drawn from years at the top level, turning challenging moments into learning opportunities for the squad.

“The two names that you have taken, one is one of the greatest openers of all time, Rohit Sharma, and Virat bhai is one of the greatest ODI batters ever.

Whenever you are in a tough situation, they have been in those kinds of situations and conditions many times in their life, so you can always go to them and see how they are thinking and what they would do, and that piece of information is very valuable for any captain. When you have these two in your team, it makes your life easier… It makes our life a lot simpler.”

Shubman Gill reacts on team India’s dressing room atmosphere

Amid speculation of friction within India’s ODI setup, possibly stemming from management decisions and alleged controversies involving head coach Gautam Gambhir, Shubman Gill firmly dismissed any such notions, stating that the team environment remains positive and harmonious.

“I think the team atmosphere is amazing / great right now. The players that you named have been in this atmosphere for decades and they are the people who always try to push the Indian cricket team forward. Even in the last series, you saw how well they performed, so I think the atmosphere of the team is great right now”, remarked Gill.

Touching upon the nature of ODI cricket, Gill appeared to indirectly counter former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar’s recent remarks describing ODIs as the “easiest format.” He emphasized that no international format is easy, citing India’s long wait since 2011 for an ODI World Cup title as proof of the resilience and sustained excellence required to succeed in 50-over cricket.

“I don’t think any format is easy, if you look at it, the Indian team hasn’t won an ODI World Cup since 2011. It’s easy to say but no format is easy and it requires a lot of effort and determination. No format is easy. If you look at it, India hasn’t won the ODI World Cup since 2011. It’s a challenge in every format, requiring immense effort and determination.

“The Indian cricket team hasn’t won a World Cup since 2011, so if it was that (easy), we would be winning (the) World Cup every second year (edition). It’s easy to say (that) but I don’t think any format is easy. Every format requires resilience, persistence and determination”, claimed Gill.

The upcoming series marks an important assignment for India, serving as preparation ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027. With Rohit and Kohli returning to ODI action and expected to provide firepower at the top after excellent stints at Vijay Hazare, the Men in Blue will aim to start strongly against a relatively depleted New Zealand side.

IND vs NZ ODI Series Schedule (IST timings):

• 1st ODI: Sunday, January 11, 2026 – BCA Stadium, Vadodara – 1:30 PM
• 2nd ODI: Wednesday, January 14, 2026 – Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot – 1:30 PM
• 3rd ODI: Sunday, January 18, 2026 – Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore – 1:30 PM

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