Gambhir calls for better pitches in Test cricket

[rollingstoned]

Gambhir calls for better pitches in Test cricket

 

India were on the field for 200.4 overs across the two innings in Delhi © AFP

India wrapped up their 2-0 series sweep inside the first hour of the fifth day but head coach Gautam Gambhir pointed out that the Delhi pitch could've been better. After a 3-0 drubbing at home in the hands of New Zealand where there was a lot of spin on offer, India produced flatter surfaces in both Ahmedabad and Delhi. In Ahmedabad, West Indies suffered from two poor batting performances, folding in 44.1 and 45.1 overs. But they arrived in Delhi having learnt some lessons, and showed better application on a pitch that appeared even flatter.

Gambhir took a serious objection to the lack of carry on it. "I thought that we could have had a better wicket here," Gambhir said. "Yes, we did get the result on Day 5, but again, I think nicks need to carry."

 

India were on the field for 200.4 overs across the two innings in Delhi, with 118.5 of them in the second innings after Shubman Gill enforced follow-on. Bumrah sent down 31.5 in the fixture, while Siraj bowled 24. They still produced incredible moments out of nothing, but were often blunted by the batters who got behind the line of the ball rather easily. "I think there has to be something for the fast bowlers as well," Gambhir offered. "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."

 

"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.

The pitch could be in focus when India next play a Test at home - the first fixture against South Africa in Kolkata starting on November 14.

[Ultimate_Game]

Gill and India erred in making WI follow on. They should've only enforced the follow on had WI collapsed around 150 in their 1st innings. There was too much time left and it made sense for Indian bowlers to get a break and batters to pile on the runs. Gill as captain scares me. He has done well as a batter but as a captain has been pretty ordinary.

[Gollum]

Attention seeker GG has no right to lash out at the curator like that. Delhi has been a fortress for us since 1987, here as well we got a pitch with plenty of runs and an Indian W, suited our spinners without any lottery factor. Minor things like bounce, carry, can be discussed in private with the curator or some BCCI official....black soil pitches are always low bouncing, maybe privately push BCCI towards adopting more red soil pitches in the future if you feel so strongly about it. 

 

Public lashouts like this hurt Indian cricket, because it gives more fuel to goras and their match refs will keep rating even our decent pitches 'unsatisfactory' or 'poor', more leeway for them. GG has zero diplomatic skills. You never see SENA coaches/captains throw their curators under the bus minutes after victory. 

 

Same guy went against seniors and captain, ordered rank turners against NZ in Pune and Mumbai last year.  Gautam Gambhir went against team management, defied Rahul Dravid's 'pitch theory' during NZ Tests

 

Even before that he wanted rank turners in India Gambhir wants rank turners to be prepared at home, throws challenge to all visiting teams to prove their mettle

 

Without a doubt the biggest dramebaaz in Indian cricket.

[Gollum]

@Lord @Lone Wolf @New guy you guys have also talked about this before. GG always shows up in post game PCs when we win, sends someone else if we lose. 

 

Dravid, for all his shortcomings as coach, always showed up to face the music from media after our painful losses and bad days, sent others when we won or were in a dominant position. Even post Nov 19 heartbreak, he had the courage to face up in the PC. That is an honourable, brave man. 

Edited October 15, 2025 by Gollum

[Lord]

10 minutes ago, Gollum said:

Attention seeker GG has no right to lash out at the curator like that. Delhi has been a fortress for us since 1987, here as well we got a pitch with plenty of runs and an Indian W, suited our spinners without any lottery factor. Minor things like bounce, carry, can be discussed in private with the curator or some BCCI official....black soil pitches are always low bouncing, maybe privately push BCCI towards adopting more red soil pitches in the future if you feel so strongly about it. 

 

Public lashouts like this hurt Indian cricket, because it gives more fuel to goras and their match refs will keep rating even our decent pitches 'unsatisfactory' or 'poor', more leeway for them. GG has zero diplomatic skills. You never see SENA coaches/captains throw their curators under the bus minutes after victory. 

 

Same guy went against seniors and captain, ordered rank turners against NZ in Pune and Mumbai last year.  Gautam Gambhir went against team management, defied Rahul Dravid's 'pitch theory' during NZ Tests

 

Even before that he wanted rank turners in India Gambhir wants rank turners to be prepared at home, throws challenge to all visiting teams to prove their mettle

 

Without a doubt the biggest dramebaaz in Indian cricket.

 

That is real pitch doctoring. We got wonderful pitches in Eng 2024 series despite losing first Test

[vvvslaxman]

5 hours ago, Ultimate_Game said:

Gill and India erred in making WI follow on. They should've only enforced the follow on had WI collapsed around 150 in their 1st innings. There was too much time left and it made sense for Indian bowlers to get a break and batters to pile on the runs. Gill as captain scares me. He has done well as a batter but as a captain has been pretty ordinary.

I agree with some of the West Indian fans who  thought it was an arrogant move. Especially after their tailenders batted for so long.

[Lord]

5 hours ago, Ultimate_Game said:

Gill and India erred in making WI follow on. They should've only enforced the follow on had WI collapsed around 150 in their 1st innings. There was too much time left and it made sense for Indian bowlers to get a break and batters to pile on the runs. Gill as captain scares me. He has done well as a batter but as a captain has been pretty ordinary.

 

He's just following Gambhir's order at this point. 

[cricspirit]

Did he forget his own call for better pitches.

 

Don't like Gambhir no matter the results. Many results are despite him and not because of him. Guy is weird. 

[rkt.india]

Just now, cricspirit said:

Did he forget his own call for better pitches.

 

Don't like Gambhir no matter the results. Many results are despite him and not because of him. Guy is weird. 

Is Gambhir the curator?

[cricspirit]

3 minutes ago, rkt.india said:

Is Gambhir the curator?

 

More dictator than curator.

[Gollum]

[AshVin]

The Cricket is just not watchable.

 

I used to wake up at 5:30 AM to watch Australia tours and would also stay awake till 3 AM to watch Windies tours.

 

Tests are my favorite format.

 

These pitches are just vomit inducing. I involuntarily get a disgusted reaction at some of the balls spitting out of the pitch on day freaking 2.

[rtmohanlal]

dumb asses repeating the mistakes   of the 0-3 drubbing home series vs NZL . When will these  'empty headed'  morons learn that these sort of bowler friendly

pitches increase the winning chances of the opposition many folded when compared to normal batting friendly pitches?? 

[New guy]

6 hours ago, rkt.india said:

Is Gambhir the curator?

The fact he went with 4 spinners including Sundar, tells me he knew in advance and was ok with it or a part of it.

Edited November 15, 2025 by New guy

[cowboysfan]

38 minutes ago, rtmohanlal said:

dumb asses repeating the mistakes   of the 0-3 drubbing home series vs NZL . When will these  'empty headed'  morons learn that these sort of bowler friendly

pitches increase the winning chances of the opposition many folded when compared to normal batting friendly pitches?? 

no accountability anywhere,can't belive they did this after Kiwi series fiasco. 

[rkt.india]

6 minutes ago, New guy said:

The fact he went with 4 spinners including Sundar, tells me he knew in advance and was ok with it or a part of it.

One look at the pitch is enough to tell if it will turn or not. Predicting turning pitch is the easier thing to do.

[putrevus]

Playing 4 spinners and turning this team into 1990s team who lost their marbles the moment they stepped out of the country.

 

Unlike 1990s visiting teams these days are equipped with their own spinners who could win them tests in India.

 

Harmer and Maharaj are as good as any spinning combo who have visited India.

Edited November 15, 2025 by putrevus

[kosingh]

20 hours ago, cricspirit said:

 

More dictator than curator.

 

More dick than dictator. 

[Lord]

 

This is what he meant by better pitches

[Gollum]