IND vs WI: "We all have responsibility.." Gautam Gambhir calls for better pitches at home to keep test cricket alive

Gautam Gambhir feels that test pitches at home need to have some support for fast bowlers.

Indian Cricket Team head coach Gautam Gambhir has called for better pitches for test matches at home following India’s victory against the West Indies in the second test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Gambhir also mentioned that the pitch in the second test was a bit alarming as it did not have much bounce.

India crushed the West Indies by seven wickets in the second test in Delhi. Unlike the opening game, pacers did not find much success in the second match. For instance, Jasprit Bumrah picked one wicket in the first innings and three wickets in the second innings. On the other hand, Mohammed Siraj picked one scalp in the first innings and two in the second.

However, this was not the case in the first test at the Narendra Modi International Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad, where Bumrah and Siraj captured seven wickets between them in the first innings. Siraj captured a total of seven wickets in the encounter.

Spinners enjoyed much more success than pacers in the Delhi test, which saw Kuldeep Yadav taking a total of eight wickets in the match. The left-arm spinner clinched a five-wicket haul in the first innings and later returned with three scalps in the second innings, for which, he even won Player of the Match award.

I think the first and foremost thing to keep Test cricket alive is playing on good surfaces: Gautam Gambhir

Speaking to the press after the Delhi test, Gautam Gambhir said that Indian pitches should have support for fast bowlers. He also added that there was no bounce in the Delhi pitch, which was a bit alarming. Gambhir feels that playing on good surfaces is crucial for keeping test cricket alive.

“I think there has to be something for the fast bowlers as well. I know we keep talking about spinners playing an important role, but when you’ve got probably two quality fast bowlers in your ranks, you still want them to be in the game as well. And it is okay that there’s not enough, but there has to be carry. So where we all saw, I thought the carry wasn’t there, which was a bit alarming,” he said.

“And I think going forward, we can get better wickets in Test cricket because all of us have the responsibility of keeping Test cricket alive. I think the first and foremost thing to keep Test cricket alive is playing on good surfaces,” he added.

Following Gambhir’s comments, the pitch would be in focus during India’s next home test series, which will be against South Africa in November. The Shubman Gill & Co. will clash with Proteas in two test matches at home starting November 14 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.