A total of 811 runs were scored during the second ODI between India and West Indies at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday.
The match had almost everything a batting fan could ask for. Shubman Gill smashed a double century, four other batters scored hundreds, West Indies crossed 400 in an ODI for the first time and India chased down a 400-plus target for the first time.
But India head coach Gautam Gambhir was not completely impressed by the run-fest.
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Gambhir questioned the nature of the Guwahati pitch after India chased down 406 with eight wickets in hand, saying the surface offered very little assistance to the bowlers.
Gambhir Wants More Contest Between Bat and Ball
India completed their highest successful ODI chase, reaching 406/2 in just 43.3 overs.
Gill remained unbeaten on 223, while Rohit Sharma scored 101. Earlier, West Indies posted 405/7, with John Campbell, Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo all scoring centuries.
While the huge scores produced several records, Gambhir felt the conditions did not create enough of a contest between bat and ball.
“Look, if I have to be absolutely honest, I feel there has to be a bit more contest between bat and ball,” Gambhir said on Star Sports.
“You talk about cricket, but this is not cricket, this is only batting.”
Gambhir acknowledged that the numbers were impressive and that fans and broadcasters would enjoy such a contest. However, he said his responsibility as a coach also made him think about the bowlers.
“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, I have to have sympathy for the bowlers as well,” he said.
West Indies And India Both Cross 400
West Indies’ three centuries helped them reach 405/7, their highest-ever ODI total.
India then produced an equally remarkable batting display. Gill and Rohit put together a huge opening partnership of 254 runs before Gill went on to complete his double century.
India eventually reached 406/2 with 39 balls still remaining.
The result made it the first time India had successfully chased a target of more than 400 in ODI cricket.
Gambhir Defends India’s Young Bowlers
India’s bowling attack had a difficult evening in Guwahati.
ODI debutant Auqib Nabi conceded 84 runs from 8.5 overs, while Gurnoor Brar gave away 96 runs despite picking up two wickets. Prasidh Krishna finished with 1/45 from his five overs.
Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja were India’s more effective bowlers on a surface heavily tilted towards batting.
However, Gambhir said the bowling figures should not be viewed in isolation.
“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.”
‘Bowlers Don’t Really Have Many Options’
Gambhir also pointed to the conditions under which modern ODI bowlers operate.
With two new balls, five fielders inside the circle and batters becoming increasingly aggressive, he believes bowlers already have limited room for error.
“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 said.
He added that the priority should be to judge whether a bowler followed his plans properly instead of simply looking at the final figures.
“If they were able to do that, then you shouldn’t be hard on them,” Gambhir said.
Gambhir Backs Debutant Auqib Nabi
Gambhir also offered support to Nabi, who was playing his first ODI for India.
The India coach said young bowlers need time and backing while adapting to international cricket, particularly when conditions are heavily stacked against them.
“If you get too hard just looking at their analysis, then we will never be able to develop bowlers,” Gambhir said.
“Imagine Auqib 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.”
‘There Wasn’t Much For Any Bowler’
Gambhir’s main concern was not the number of runs scored, but the lack of assistance available to the bowling side.
He felt the pitch gave bowlers very little opportunity to fight back once the batters settled in.
“But unfortunately, today there wasn’t much for any bowler,” Gambhir said.
The third ODI between India and West Indies is scheduled to take place on October 3 at PCA New Cricket Stadium in Punjab. West Indies will now look to win the third ODI to save the whitewash.
