Now Reading: Gambhir slams Guwahati pitch after record 811-run ODI
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Gambhir slams Guwahati pitch after record 811-run ODI
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has criticised the flat pitch at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati after the second ODI against the West Indies on 30 September produced a record 811 runs and five centuries. India chased down the West Indies’ 405 with eight wickets and 39 balls to spare, led by captain Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 223 and Rohit Sharma’s 101. The West Indies had posted their highest total with centuries from John Campbell, Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo.
Gambhir told JioStar: ‘This is not cricket, this is only batting.’ He said bowlers had no margin for error with two new balls, five fielders inside the circle and modern power-hitting, and called for conditions that offer bowlers something to work with. Young Indian pacers Gurnoor Brar and Auqib Nabi conceded 96 and 84 runs respectively. The match was the first ODI to feature five centurions. The third ODI is scheduled next.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Rediff.com frames the match as a crisis for the sport, leading with the question of whether the contest between bat and ball is being killed, and highlighting bowlers’ helplessness. The Hindu leads with Gambhir’s blunt verdict and his specific critique of the pitch, giving space to his concerns about developing young bowlers. Both sources agree the surface was too flat and that bowlers were unfairly treated. Rediff focuses on the spectacle’s long-term effect on the game, while The Hindu anchors the story in the coach’s authority. Together, they show rare unanimity that ODI conditions have tilted too far towards batting, with Gambhir’s call for more balance providing the actionable takeaway.
The next watch item is whether the pitch for the third ODI offers any assistance to bowlers.
Coverage: 2 sources, 1 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Sources (2): rediff.com (sensationalist), thehindu.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
