Cricket coach calls for greater balance between bat and ball

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has criticised the batting-friendly conditions in Guwahati following his side’s record 406-run chase against the West Indies in the second ODI.

Cricinfo reports that Gambhir said there needed to be greater assistance for bowlers, arguing that conditions offering little help to them risked reducing the contest to one dominated by batting.

He said the scale of the scores might be attractive to spectators and broadcasters, but coaches also needed to consider the challenges faced by bowlers, particularly younger players.

Gambhir urged his coaching staff to assess bowlers on whether they executed their plans rather than judging them solely on their figures. He said difficult conditions could produce poor-looking statistics even when bowlers had followed their plans effectively. India used the match to give a debut to Auqib Nabi, and Gambhir said exposing players to pressure was important preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

With the tournament about a year away, he said India had fewer matches available for experimentation than the calendar might suggest. The IPL and India’s series against Australia will take up several months, leaving the side with roughly 20 ODIs after the current series.

Gambhir said India therefore needed to use upcoming matches to assess different options and give players opportunities before settling on the squad for the World Cup. He specifically cited the value of giving bowlers such as Nabi and Gurnoor Brar experience in demanding situations, including the opening and closing stages of an innings.