Gautam Gambhir: Guwahati game was 'only batting' — bowlers need more help after 406 chase

# What happened in Guwahati

India chased 406 to win the second ODI against West Indies, finishing on 408 for two in 43.3 overs. West Indies had posted 405 for seven. The match featured five centuries, including Shubman Gill's unbeaten 223 off 133 balls and Rohit Sharma's 101 off 75.

Gautam Gambhir spoke to Star Sports after the game and expressed concern about the pitch. He said it offered very little assistance to bowlers and described the contest as ''only batting.'' He said that while the chase and run-scoring are attractive for records and the crowd, the conditions were not fair to bowlers.

# Why Gambhir raised the issue

Gambhir's criticism rests on three linked points:

• Player development: Young bowlers need conditions that allow them to execute plans and learn. He mentioned Auqib Nabi's debut and argued that bowling figures on such tracks can misrepresent a bowler's performance.
• Assessment for selection: With the 2027 ODI World Cup approaching, Gambhir says India have relatively few ODIs left to evaluate players and strategies, so meaningful assessment requires varied, contesting conditions.
• Match balance and fairness: He argued that when a pitch offers almost nothing to the bowlers, the margin for error becomes tiny and bowling options are limited despite tactics like field placement and new balls.

# What Gambhir said about bowlers' figures

He pointed to players such as Gurnoor Brar as examples where exposing them to high-pressure spells — even if statistics look poor — will help build skills needed for big tournaments.

# Context: World Cup timeline and match significance

Gambhir noted the calendar impact on preparation: he estimated that a chunk of the next year will be taken by IPL and a Australia series, leaving only around 20 ODIs for India before the World Cup. That limited schedule increases the need to test options quickly and to expose bowlers to pressure situations.

# Practical implications

• Pitch preparation: Gambhir's comments will likely prompt discussions among venue curators and boards about ensuring more balanced surfaces for international ODIs.
• Selection and development: India's support staff will need to weigh raw figures against execution when assessing young bowlers and deciding how best to use remaining ODIs before the World Cup.
• Match planning: Captains and coaches may prioritise giving promising bowlers exposure in tough situations, accepting short-term statistical damage for long-term growth.

# Bottom line

Gambhir welcomed the chase for its spectacle but rejected the idea that such matches are ideal for evaluating bowlers. He wants future matches to provide more of a contest between bat and ball so bowlers can develop and be fairly judged ahead of the 2027 World Cup.