“It’s not fair for the bowlers”: Kotak, Gambhir raise concerns after 811-run Guwahati ODI

Gautam Gambhir and  Sitanshu Kotak.
Image Credit: Debasis Sen.

A total of 811 runs were scored in the second ODI between India and West Indies at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium on Wednesday. India successfully chased West Indies’ 405 with eight wickets in hand and 39 balls to spare.

There were five centurions across the two sides, with Indian captain Shubman Gill scoring a stellar 223 not out in the winning cause. Rohit Sharma also scored a brilliant 101. The visitors, meanwhile, had three centurions in John Campbell (101), Shai Hope (104) and Amir Jangoo (114).

India successfully chased a record target with eight wickets in hand and 39 balls to spare. However, the nature of the pitch came under scrutiny after the high-scoring contest.

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir was critical of the 22 yards on offer for the second ODI. Speaking to the host broadcaster after the match, Gambhir said:

“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 host broadcaster after the game.

“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.”

In the aftermath of India’s record-breaking chase of 406 against West Indies in the Guwahati ODI, the focus quickly shifted to the staggering mismatch between bat and ball.

Gambhir, speaking to the host broadcasters, declared: “It’s not cricket, it’s batting.” Even batting coach, Sitangshu Kotak also echoed the same in the post-match press conference, saying: “There was not a lot for the bowlers. We wish that it is equally balanced. Particularly in today’s game, yes, you do feel for the bowlers.”

Therefore, despite the record-breaking numbers produced by both batting line-ups, all these comments nothing but highlighted the concern over the lack of assistance for bowlers.

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The post “It’s not fair for the bowlers”: Kotak, Gambhir raise concerns after 811-run Guwahati ODI appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.



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