Install bowling machine: Yuzvendra Chahal backs Gambhir’s plea for a better pitch

Yuzvendra Chahal has thrown his weight behind India head coach Gautam Gambhir’s demand for a better pitch, arguing that modern cricket is increasingly leaning in favor of batsmen. After the high-scoring thriller between India and West Indies in Ranchi, the leg-spinner questioned the lack of help for the bowlers and called for conditions that offer a fairer match between bat and ball.

India posted an impressive 249 for five in the second T20I on 9 October, but Shai Hope’s unbeaten 102 off 45 balls and Sherfane Rutherford’s explosive 84 off 37 deliveries saw West Indies to a six-wicket victory in just 18.3 overs. The match yielded 501 runs with the visitors finishing the second most successful run chase in men’s T20I history. The extraordinary scoring has once again brought the balance between bat and ball into focus.

“There’s nothing for the bowlers on such wickets. When the ball gets old, there’s dew, the ball hits the bat beautifully and the pitch shrinks. We saw it in the IPL too, when 260 was chased down in 19 overs. In this game too, 250 was easily chased down in 18.3 overs, while Cierick Chahalo’H said Jierick Chahalo’H.”

“So what should the bowlers do? What’s the use of their skill? I feel for them because I’m a bowler too and when I’m bowling in the IPL, on small pitches with flat wickets, you also have an Impact Player. Earlier, when the Impact Player rule didn’t exist, you’d see 50 runs in six overs and a total of 170-180.

“But these days 70-80 runs are scored in the first six overs and the game plays itself there. So either you have to have something for the bowlers at the wicket or just install a bowling machine,” added Chahal.

GAMBHIR CALLS FOR FAIR COMPETITION

Chahal’s remarks echo Gambhir’s concerns about the batsmen’s growing dominance. India’s head coach had he expressed similar frustration after the second ODI against the West Indies in Guwahati on 30 September when the teams combined for 811 runs in a match which India won by four wickets while chasing 406.

Gambhir argued that cricket should offer a genuine contest between bat and ball rather than becoming a boundary-dominated spectacle.

“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 said.

Reiterating his stance after the Ranchi T20I, the coach said he understood that fans like sixes and fours, but stressed that a close match would make for better cricket.

India, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back and take a 2-1 lead when the third T20I gets underway on Sunday, October 11 at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.

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