Gambhir rues batting-friendly pitches after India's record ODI chase

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Oct 1 : India coach Gautam Gambhir said the batting-friendly pitch in Guwahati was unfair on bowlers after his side completed the second-highest successful chase in one-day international history on Wednesday.

India overhauled West Indies' 405-7 with an eight-wicket victory to seal the series, but Gambhir said the run-fest underlined the need for a fairer contest between bat and ball.

"There has to be a bit more of a contest between bat and ball, because I think you talk about cricket — but this is not cricket, this is only batting," Gambhir told Star Sports.

"Imagine a young bowler bowling on this wicket, and the opposition getting 400 and then we go on to chase 400.

"For the records it's outstanding, for the crowd it's outstanding, for the broadcaster it's outstanding, but as a genuine cricket fan and as a coach, I have to have sympathy for the bowlers as well."

The 44-year-old said bowlers should not be judged solely by their figures on surfaces that provide virtually no assistance.

"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 said.

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