01 October,2026 02:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Gautam Gambhir (Pic: File Pic)
In the second ODI match against the West Indies, Team India secured a win by eight wickets at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati.
Following the victory, Team India's head coach Gautam Gambhir said that it was not cricket and there needs to be more contest between bat and ball.
"Look, if I have to be absolutely honest, I feel I think there has to be a bit of more contest between bat and ball, because I think you talk about cricket - but this is not cricket, this is only batting," he said on Star Sports, according to Cricinfo.
The head coach then said that the run chase of 400 runs is outstanding for the record books, but feels that bowling on such a pitch was not fair for the bowlers.
"Because imagine a young bowler bowling on this wicket, and the opposition getting 400 and then we go on to chase 400. Obviously, for the records it's outstanding, for the crowd it's outstanding, for the broadcaster it's outstanding, but if you ask me as a genuine cricket fan and as a coach, because I have to have sympathy for the bowlers as well," said Gambhir.
"When you bowl on this kind of a wicket, it's not fair for the bowlers. So we've got to give something to the bowlers so there's at least something which the bowlers can work with," he added.
Chasing a target of 406, the "Men in Blue" posted a total of 406 runs for the loss of two wickets in 43.3 overs.
Team India's opening batsman Rohit Sharma delivered a glorious knock of 101 runs in 75 balls, including 10 boundaries and six maximums. Virat Kohli returned to the pavilion after scoring 29 runs in 19 balls, including three boundaries and a maximum.
Captain Shubman Gill delivered a match-winning knock of an unbeaten 223 runs in 133 deliveries, which was laced with 26 boundaries and eight maximums. Shouldering him was Ruturaj Gaikwad, who smashed an unbeaten 31 runs in 37 balls, including two boundaries.
West Indies' Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph bagged one wicket each. Alzarri Joseph, Keemo Paul, Roston Chase, and Vitel Orlando Lawes went wicketless in the second ODI match against the "Men in Blue".
Earlier, the hosts posted a total of 405 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 50 overs.
Opening batsman John Campbell gave a strong start to the team by delivering a knock of 101 runs off 68 deliveries, laced with nine boundaries and five maximums. Fellow opening batsman Keacy Carty scored nine runs in 10 balls, with the help of two boundaries.
Skipper Shai Hope also garnered 104 runs in 94 balls, including eight boundaries and three maximums. Facing 77 deliveries, Amir Jangoo accumulated 114 runs. He also smashed 13 boundaries and three maximums during his knock.
Sherfane Rutherford was dismissed on a one-ball duck. Keemo Paul and Alzarri Joseph were dismissed on three and eight runs, respectively. Roston Chase and Shamar Joseph stayed unbeaten on 29 and 14 runs, respectively.
Team India's Gurnoor Brar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav have bagged two wickets each. Prasidh Krishna also claimed one wicket by conceding 45 runs in five overs. Auqib Nabi and Naman Dhir went wicketless in the second ODI match against the Caribbean side.
(With ANI Inputs)
