‘I don’t care as long as…’ – Ben Duckett states larger goals for England even if they suffer ODI series whitewash against India

The final game of the ODI series between India and England is set to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The visitors have already lost the series after the Men in Blue won the second match in Cuttack by four wickets on Sunday. Opener Ben Duckett has now revealed what a series whitewash will mean ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025. 

The left-handed batter, while speaking to Star Sports, said, “We have come here for one thing and that is to win the Champions Trophy. If we lose 3-0 to India, I don't care as long as we beat them in the final of the Champions Trophy. It's about peaking at the right time. We've been close against India and been nowhere near our best. We will always take positives.”

Duckett scored 65 on Sunday before holing out to Hardik Pandya to give Ravindra Jadeja his first wicket. Speaking about his own batting form, Duckett said, “I am not content with getting 65. But I wouldn't change anything I did. Until I got out, I played nicely." 

The 30-year-old also said his coach will never be upset with him since he was showing attacking instincts while playing left-arm spin. “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," said Ben Duckett. 

Kevin Pietersen slams team after series loss to India 

Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen was seething with rage after the series loss to India on Sunday. The 43-year-old called out the batters for not converting the starts they got in Cuttack. Joe Root and Ben Duckett were out for 69 and 65, respectively, but couldn’t convert their starts into big scores. 

Pietersen during his post-match analysis on Star Sports said, “It seems to me there's just a lack of hunger and a lack of desire to go and get that 130, 140. That's what's missing. Like, it's just too easy. Get 40, get 50, get 60. That's cool. Everything's fine. Got my 50, got my 60. I'll probably play the next game. If I don't, I'll have the day off and go and play golf, and I'm gonna do what I like.”

The former England skipper also added, “It just seems to me like they're just lacking that bit of something that says, 'Hey, man, come on. Let's get that 100; let's get that 130.' This team here should be scoring 350 today. That's what they should be doing. 304, they might still win this game. They've got a very good chance of still winning this game, but they should be able to be ruthless and get that 350, 360 because they're good enough."