'England don’t care about losing 0-3 to India': Ben Duckett makes shocking statement
Published - 11 Feb 2025, 05:28 PM | Updated - 11 Feb 2025, 05:29 PM
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In a bold statement ahead of the third and final ODI against India, England's explosive opener Ben Duckett dismissed the concerns about his team’s struggles in the ongoing white-ball series. Ben Duckett insisted that the result of the three-match ODI series doesn’t matter to England.
Despite being 2-0 down before heading into the final ODI in Ahmedabad on February 12, Duckett has made it clear that as long as the England National Cricket Team clinches the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, especially by defeating India in the final, the ongoing series will be irrelevant.
Ben Duckett unfazed by England's potential whitewash in the ODI series
Notably, England’s performance in the first two ODIs was underwhelming, with the batting lineup failing to deliver despite the hosts being without their premier bowler Jasprit Bumrah. The English batter struggled with their aggressive "Bazball" approach against India, losing six of their last seven matches under Brendon McCullum’s first tour as the white-ball head coach.
With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 just around the corner, Duckett remains unfazed by the whitewash of the touring side as their ultimate goal is to lift the Champions Trophy, and if they manage to do so, then the outcome of this series doesn’t matter to them.
If we lose 3-0 to India, I don't care as long as we beat them in the CT Final: Ben Duckett
Ben Duckett was quoted as saying by Sky Sports, “We have come here for one thing, and that is to win the Champions Trophy. We still believe we can do that. It'll be completely different conditions and all different teams we are playing against. If we lose 3-0 to India, I don't care as long as we beat them in the final of the Champions Trophy. If we do that, we probably won't look back on this if we do the business in that competition.”
Duckett had set a strong foundation for England in the second ODI by playing a brilliant knock of 65 runs off 56 balls, including 10 boundaries, but he couldn’t turn it into a century. England ended up with 304 runs, about 25-30 runs short on a flat pitch in Cuttack. And Duckett acknowledged that he wasn’t happy with his performance but stated that he would stick to his aggressive batting style.
Ben Duckett not happy with his performance in the second ODI
The 30-year-old signed off by saying, “I am not content with getting 65. But I wouldn't change anything I did. Until I got out, I played nicely. [McCullum] will never have a go at me for trying to hit a left-arm spinner for six over midwicket with a shot I play time and again. Stick to the options we practice; there will be no complaints inside the changing room.”
Notably, England will kick off their 2025 Champions Trophy campaign against Australia on February 22 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Then, they will face Afghanistan on February 26 in Lahore, followed by their final Group B match against South Africa on March 1 at the National Cricket Stadium in Karachi.
However, the multi-nation tournament will begin on February 19 with the hosts, Pakistan, taking on New Zealand at the National Cricket Stadium in Karachi.
