Gautam Gambhir stresses the need for fast-bowler-friendly pitches in India. Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir, has urged for better support for fast bowlers on home test pitches following India’s victory over the West Indies in the second test at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. Gautam Gambhir noted that the pitch in the second test was somewhat concerning, as it lacked sufficient bounce.
India comfortably defeated the West Indies by seven wickets in Delhi. Unlike the opening test, pacers struggled to make a significant impact. Jasprit Bumrah managed just one wicket in the first innings and three in the second, while Mohammed Siraj claimed one in the first innings and two in the second.
This contrasted sharply with the first test at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where Bumrah and Siraj shared seven wickets in the first innings, and Siraj finished the match with a total of seven wickets.
In Delhi, spinners dominated, with Kuldeep Yadav taking eight wickets across both innings. The left-arm wrist spinner secured a five-wicket haul in the first innings and added three more in the second, earning him the Player of the Match award.
Gautam Gambhir: Playing on quality pitches is key to keeping Test cricket alive
After the Delhi Test, Gautam Gambhir emphasized the importance of good pitches in India, saying that surfaces should provide support for fast bowlers. He expressed concern over the lack of bounce in the Delhi pitch, calling it “a bit alarming,” and stressed that playing on proper surfaces is vital for the survival of Test cricket.
“I think there has to be something for the fast bowlers as well. While spinners play a key role, when you have two quality fast bowlers, you want them to be part of the game too. It’s okay if the support isn’t huge, but there has to be carry. In Delhi, I felt the carry just wasn’t there, which was a bit worrying,” Gambhir said.
He added, “Going forward, we can get better wickets in Test cricket because all of us share the responsibility of keeping the format alive. The first and foremost thing is playing on good surfaces.”
Following Gautam Gambhir remarks, the pitch will be under scrutiny ahead of India’s next home Test series against South Africa in November. Shubman Gill and his team will take on the Proteas in two matches, beginning November 14 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
