Nagpur, Feb 4 (Reporter) India cricketer Shubman Gill has dismissed any notions of toxic competition within the national team, stating that he does not harbour any ill will towards his teammates, including fellow openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Abhishek Sharma. Gill emphasised that despite competing for spots in the playing XI, the team shares a healthy rivalry, and he does not wish his peers to fail. "Abhishek is a childhood friend of mine. Jaiswal is also a friend, and I don’t think there is any toxic competition between us. Obviously, if you are playing for the country, you want to perform in every match, and not think that ‘I wish this guy doesn't perform’," Gill told reporters ahead of the first ODI match against England on Tuesday. Gill’s comments come amid increasing discussion surrounding team selection and the fierce competition for spots in India’s top order. However, the young opener underlined that all players, including Jaiswal and Abhishek, share the same goal of contributing to the team’s success. He further praised the role of captain Rohit Sharma, whose aggressive batting has had a game-changing impact on India’s ODI success over the past year and a half. "The way Rohit bhai has been batting in the ODIs in the past one year and a half, it's been really game-changing for us. Taking the momentum right through from the start and taking the game away from ball one, it makes the job of the non-striker and the batsmen coming in a bit easier; and I think it has helped our team a lot," Gill added. On the domestic circuit, Gill acknowledged the impressive performances of Karun Nair in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but made it clear that such performances should not automatically lead to changes in the current squad. "Karun had a great Vijay Hazare Trophy, but that doesn’t mean the current players should be dropped. They have also performed well to reach this stage," he remarked. Reflecting on India’s World Cup record, where the team has lost only one match, Gill stressed the importance of maintaining squad continuity. "We have lost only one game in the World Cups. The players in the squad have contributed significantly, and while it's unfortunate for those excelling in domestic cricket who weren't picked, constant chopping and changing will affect players' confidence. Without continuity, we can never build a strong team," Gill concluded...////...