SEO_DESC: India head coach Gautam Gambhir calls the Guwahati pitch "not cricket" after a massive run fest saw India chase down 406 against West Indies.

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'This is not cricket...': Gambhir slams Guwahati pitch after massive run fest

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has voiced strong concerns regarding the playing conditions in Guwahati following a historic batting display that saw India chase down a mammoth 406 against the West Indies in the second ODI. While the victory secured a series win for India, Gambhir argued that the lack of assistance for bowlers makes the contest one-sided and unfair to the bowling side.

"This is only batting"

Speaking to Star Sports after the high-scoring encounter, Gambhir did not mince his words about the nature of the pitch. He emphasized that for a game to be considered true cricket, there must be a balanced struggle between the bat and the ball.

"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 said.

The coach noted that while the high scores are a dream for broadcasters, fans, and record books, they present a significant challenge for the development of bowlers. He pointed out that asking a young bowler to compete on such a surface is inherently difficult.

A record-breaking chase in Guwahati

The match saw an extraordinary display of power hitting from both sides. The West Indies had posted a formidable 405 for seven, fueled by centuries from John Campbell, Shai Hope, and Amir Jangoo. However, the Indian batting lineup responded with even greater ferocity.

India reached the target of 406 in just 43.3 overs, marking the highest successful run chase in the team's ODI history. Key highlights of the chase included:

• Shubman Gill: A monumental, unbeaten 223 off 133 balls.
• Rohit Sharma: A rapid 101 from only 75 deliveries.
• Opening Partnership: A massive 255-run stand between Gill and Rohit, the second-highest opening stand for India in men's ODIs.
• Virat Kohli: A quick-fire 29 off 19 balls.
• Ruturaj Gaikwad: A steady 31 off 37 to see the chase home.

This feat makes it only the second time in ODI history that a team has successfully chased a target of 400 or more, following South Africa's legendary chase against Australia in 2006.

Sympathy for the bowlers

Gambhir urged analysts and fans to look beyond the expensive bowling figures when evaluating performance on such tracks. He suggested that the modern game, combined with specific field restrictions and power-hitting, leaves bowlers with very little margin for error.

"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," Gambhir explained. He added that if a bowler executes their plan correctly, they should be supported rather than criticized for the runs conceded on a flat track.

Preparing for the 2027 World Cup

Despite the series being decided, India handed a debut to Auqib Nabi during the match. Gambhir clarified that this was a deliberate move to prepare the squad for the high-pressure environments of the 2027 ODI World Cup.

The coach explained that exposing young talent to pressure situations in a series-winning match provides a different kind of learning than a "dead rubber" game. "The World Cup is all about pressure... we want to put bowlers under pressure," he concluded.