India head coach Gautam Gambhir has criticised the batting-friendly conditions in Guwahati despite his team completing a historic run chase against the West Indies, saying an ODI in which more than 800 runs were scored offered little for bowlers.
India chased down West Indies’ imposing 405/7 for the loss of just two wickets, completing the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history and sealing the three-match series.
But Gambhir was far from impressed with the balance between bat and ball.
“There has to be a bit more of a contest between bat and ball, because I think you talk about cricket — but this is not cricket, this is only batting,” Gambhir told Star Sports.
He said such surfaces could be particularly difficult for young bowlers trying to establish themselves at international level.
“Imagine a young bowler bowling on this wicket, and the opposition getting 400 and then we go on to chase 400,” he said.
“For the records it’s outstanding, for the crowd it’s outstanding, for the broadcaster it’s outstanding, but as a genuine cricket fan and as a coach, I have to have sympathy for the bowlers as well.”
Gambhir said bowling figures on extremely batting-friendly pitches could also give a misleading impression of a bowler’s performance.
“When you bowl on this kind of a wicket, it’s not fair for the bowlers. So we’ve got to give something to the bowlers so there’s at least something which the bowlers can work with,” he said.
The India coach pointed out that ODI bowlers are already challenged by fielding restrictions, two new balls and increasingly aggressive batting.
The extraordinary match saw more than 800 runs scored as India successfully chased a 400-plus target for only the second time in ODI history.
India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, with the third and final ODI scheduled to be played in New Chandigarh on Saturday. (Newswire)
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