Stories
Gambhir Blasts Guwahati Pitch: "This Is Not Cricket" After Record Run Chase
- •Gautam Gambhir criticized the Guwahati pitch after India's record 406-run chase against West Indies, stating it offered nothing for bowlers and created an unfair contest.
- •The match saw 811 runs scored, with one double century and three centuries, leading to West Indies' highest ODI total and India's first 400-plus chase.
- •Gambhir argued that while the run-fest was good for records, crowds, and broadcasters, it was not "cricket" from a genuine fan and coach's perspective, emphasizing the need for a balance between bat and ball.
- •He highlighted the lack of margin for error for bowlers on such a batting-friendly surface, especially with modern ODI rules favoring aggressive batting.
- •Gambhir defended young bowlers like Auqib Nabi, stressing the importance of supporting them and focusing on execution rather than just figures on challenging pitches.
Key Questions Answered
A total of 811 runs were scored during the match, with West Indies crossing 400 runs for the first time in ODI history and India successfully chasing down a 400-plus target for the first time. Shubman Gill hit an unbeaten 223 and Rohit Sharma scored 101 to guide India to their highest successful ODI chase of 406/2.
Gautam Gambhir criticized the pitch for offering virtually nothing for bowlers and creating an unfair contest between bat and ball. He noted that the surface provided no margin of error for bowlers, leading him to state that the high-scoring affair was not cricket, but only batting.
India's inexperienced pace attack struggled significantly against the West Indies batters. Debutant Auqib Nabi conceded 84 runs in 8.5 overs, Gurnoor Brar gave up 96 runs for two wickets, and Prasidh Krishna took one wicket for 45 runs in five overs, while spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja provided more effective performances.
