Sports Desk:

Jos Buttler defended his England teammates after their 3-0 ODI series defeat to India, dismissing criticism from the likes of Kevin Pietersen and Ravi Shastri, who questioned England’s training approach and preparation ahead of the Champions Trophy.

After India clinched a dominant series win with a convincing victory in the Ahmedabad ODI, questions were raised about England’s commitment and readiness. Many felt that the Brendon McCullum-coached side failed to prepare adequately, leading to their lackluster performances in both the T20I and ODI series. However, Buttler refuted these claims during the post-match press conference, insisting that the team’s training sessions were well-structured and taken seriously.

“I’m not sure that’s quite true, to be honest. We had a reasonably long tour, a few long travel days. There’s been a couple of times we’ve not trained, but we’ve certainly done plenty of training throughout the tour,” Buttler said.

“We obviously try and create a really good environment, but don’t mistake that for a lazy environment or a lack of effort. The guys are desperate to perform and do well and improve,” he added.

England’s famed Bazball approach struggled to make an impact in the white-ball series, raising concerns ahead of the Champions Trophy. The batting unit failed to deliver consistently, with key players unable to step up against a dominant Indian bowling attack. The bowling department, too, lacked penetration, with veteran leg-spinner Adil Rashid standing out as one of the few positives.

With the Champions Trophy fast approaching, England find themselves under pressure to regroup and rediscover their form. They begin their campaign against arch-rivals Australia on February 22, a crucial fixture that could set the tone for their tournament. Meanwhile, India, buoyed by their emphatic series win, will carry immense confidence into the competition. As questions mount over England’s preparedness, McCullum and Buttler have a tough road ahead to silence the critics and get their side back on track.