Time to address the 4th innings modest chases, BCCI would you listen?

[The Realist]

Lowest targets India failed to chase down

120 vs WI Bridgetown 1997
124 vs SA Eden Gardens 2025
147 vs NZ Wankhede 2024
176 vs SL Galle 2015
193 vs Eng Lord’s 2025
194 vs Eng Edgbaston 2019

 

Gambhir going down in history 

[Sooda]

 If England were batting, what would they have done; sweeps, reverse sweeps, switch hits…there was none of that, so they don’t need to have fielders there and all on boundary down the ground…poor to not chase this again regardless of how bad the pitch was

 

 

 

These conditions in a way are very similar to like in England when it’s swinging and seaming and it looks like every ball will get a wicket. If the bowlers keep bowling in the good area with fielders around the bat, matter of time with a ball with your name on it. So the goal needs to be two fold from the offset; to get the bowlers off their length and to spread the field. And the batters have to find the shots that will do that as quick as possible. This also involves risk ultimately.

 

 

 

Sweeps and reverse sweeps are good shots; they are shots off good balls and they force the opposition captain to put fielders behind square thereby potentially removing close in fielders and/or opening up scoring opportunities elsewhere

 

 

 

Although we keep being unable to chase sub 150 scores in spinning conditions in the 4th innings, this is a lesson we just don’t learn.

 

The initial part of the innings, the risk needed is like an investment for later. It’s the opposite of the traditional of leaving the ball and defending late; then cashing in later. Take risks early, then when there are less close in fielders, then can defend more comfortably knowing an error that comes, you can still survive.

Edited November 16, 2025 by Sooda

[vvvslaxman]

[Trichromatic]

Chases are rare on Indian pitches, probably that's why Indian players are not used to 4th inning knocks? FC cricket encourages first inning party.