This isn’t cricket, it’s just batting: Gambhir hits the Guwahati pitch after 811-run fest

India could have won a lot in the 2nd ODI against West Indies but that did not make head coach Gautam Gambhir happy. On Wednesday, September 30, India chased down the mammoth target of 405 runs with relative ease, finishing things off in just 43.3 overs.

In response to the 811-run fest after the ODI, Gambhir criticized the Guwahati pitch. Hitting out at the lack of balance between bat and ball, the head coach said what happened in Guwahati was not cricket but only batting.

“Look, to be completely honest, I feel like I think there needs to be a bit more competition between bat and ball because I think you’re talking about cricket – but this isn’t cricket, this is just batting,” Gambhir told a television station after the match. Gautam Gambhir (right) with RP Singh in Guwahati. (PTI Photo)

Pitchers had a tough time in both halves of the game on Wednesday. India won the toss and elected to bowl first in Guwahati. Once again, they couldn’t control the power play, ending up with runs throughout the inning. Opener John Campbell and No.3 Shai Hope put on 110 runs to set the stage for a big total.

IND vs WI, 2nd ODI: Highlighting | Scorecard

Both Campbell and Hope scored hundreds, which was later followed by another mighty century from Amir Jangoo. West Indies made a total of 405 runs, but given the state of the pitch and India’s firepower, it was unclear whether this could have been a defendable total.

SHUBMAN SEALS AN INCREDIBLE CHASE

The second half of the match was similar. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill added 255 runs for the first wicket in just 26 overs. The partnership wiped out any chances West Indies had in the match and set India up for an incredible chase.

After Rohit’s dismissal on 101, Shubman took over and scored the fastest double century in ODI cricket. The India captain remained unbeaten on 223 off just 133 balls, sealing the fate of the chase.

Gambhir didn’t hold back when he attacked the broadcasting ecosystem for favoring high-scoring matches that put bowling skills out of contention.

“Because imagine a young bowler on that wicket and the opposition get 400 and then we go on to chase 400. Obviously it’s excellent for the records, it’s excellent for the crowd, it’s excellent for the broadcasters, but if you ask me as a real cricket fan and as a coach, because I have to sympathize with the bowlers thing.”

Several former cricketers and fans have complained about broadcasters favoring games that are highly biased towards the batsmen. There seems to be a growing discontent among cricket fans who are perhaps tired of seeing defensive bowling, with bowlers simply trying to avoid the batsmen’s strike arcs.

The West Indies series also faced fan ire, with many questioning why India are playing on flat decks when next year’s ODI World Cup matches will be in South Africa, where the conditions could offer more seam and bounce than those flat decks.

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