Five centuries, including a record-breaking double hundred from Shubman Gill, highlighted a run-fest in Guwahati as India defeated West Indies by eight wickets on Wednesday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
A total of 811 runs were scored across the two innings, making it the third-highest aggregate in an ODI. However, the high-scoring nature of the contest did not impress India head coach Gautam Gambhir, who felt the pitch offered very little for the bowlers.
The bowlers conceded 807 runs between them, which is also the third-highest aggregate in ODI history. The fast bowlers, in particular, struggled to make an impact. All of India’s pacers conceded at more than nine runs per over and managed only three wickets between them. West Indies’ four pacers, meanwhile, all went at more than eight runs per over, with two conceding at over 10, while managing just two wickets.
Speaking to the broadcasters after India sealed the series in Guwahati, Gambhir called for pitches that offer a better contest between bat and ball.
“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 Star Sports.
“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.”
“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.”
Gautam Gambhir urges patience with bowlers after Auqib Nabi’s expensive debut
One of the bowlers who endured a difficult outing was India debutant Auqib Nabi. The pacer conceded 84 runs from 8.5 overs without picking up a wicket as West Indies posted a huge total.
However, Gambhir stressed that bowlers should not be judged solely by their figures, particularly when conditions provide little assistance. According to the India head coach, execution of plans should be given greater importance when assessing a bowler’s performance.
“The first thing is that you need some sympathy and a bit of margin for the bowlers,” he said.
“Often you can’t be hard on bowlers, because sometimes bowling figures are such that they haven’t bowled as poorly as their figures suggest. Because the margin is very small. Plus, I think you can only bowl in good areas because besides that, with five fielders inside, two new balls, and the kind of power-hitting there is now, bowlers don’t really have many options.”
Gambhir further explained that the coaching staff first assess whether a bowler has executed the plans properly rather than focusing only on the final figures. He also stressed the importance of supporting young bowlers like Nabi, who was playing his first international match.
“That is why, as a coach, as a support staff, the first thing you look at is, were they able to execute their bowling or their plans properly? If they were able to do that, then you shouldn’t be hard on them. If you get too hard just looking at their analysis, then we will never be able to develop bowlers. Imagine Auqib [Nabi] playing his first game… somewhere you need to give them a bit of support and keep a bit of an extra cushion or extra options for them. But unfortunately, today there wasn’t much for any bowler.”
