Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed his disappointment over the Guwahati pitch, as a total of 811 runs were scored in 93.3 overs, while bowlers managed to scalp only nine out of 20 wickets in the second ODI on Wednesday, September 30.
Speaking to the broadcaster after India’s thumping eight-wicket win over the West Indies in the second ODI, Gambhir slammed the lack of balance between bat and ball as Indian batters chased down the 406-run target in just 43.3 overs.
“Look, if I have to be absolutely honest, I feel I think there has to be a bit of more contest between bat and ball, because I think you talk about cricket – but this is not cricket, this is only batting,” Gambhir told the broadcaster.
West Indies was tasked with batting first, and they posted a daunting total of 405/7 in 50 overs. John Campbell (101), Shai Hope (104) and Amir Jangoo (114) were the top scorers. In the chase, India sealed the deal in 43.3 overs with eight wickets in hand. Rohit Sharma (101) and Shubman Gill (223*) were the top batters.
Further, Gambhir came out all guns blazing and slammed the broadcasting ecosystem for favouring high-scoring matches that take bowlers out of the game, expressing his sympathy towards young Indian bowlers.
“Because imagine a young bowler bowling on this wicket, and the opposition getting 400 and then we go on to chase 400. Obviously, for the records it’s outstanding, for the crowd it’s outstanding, for the broadcaster it’s outstanding, but if you ask me as a genuine cricket fan and as a coach, because I have to have sympathy for the bowlers as well,” he added.
