Ranchi, 10 October (H.S.):

After India failed to defend a target of 249 in the second T20 International against the West Indies, head coach Gautam Gambhir once again called for a better balance between bat and ball.

While acknowledging the challenges posed to bowlers by a flat pitch and heavy dew, Gambhir made it clear that India must learn to contain opposition batters even in conditions that heavily favour stroke-makers.

Powered by a superb batting display from Shai Hope, the West Indies achieved the second-highest successful run chase in their T20 International history. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Gambhir said he shared the desire for a more even contest between bat and ball.

“Wouldn’t you want a good contest between bat and ball? We want the same thing you want. If you want to see only sixes and fours, we want that too. If you want an even contest, we want that as well,” Gambhir said.

Defending his bowlers, the India coach stressed that they had worked hard to earn their places in the national team and should not be judged solely on the outcome of a difficult match.

“These are our bowlers, and their careers are at stake too. They have worked extremely hard to make it into the Indian dressing room. It is not as though they have not put in the effort. If there is an even contest between bat and ball, it will be good for the game and allow us to watch better cricket,” he said.

Learning from Defeat and Finding Ways to Improve

Gambhir, however, refused to attribute the defeat entirely to the pitch and dew. While acknowledging the difficulty of bowling in such conditions, he praised the West Indies for their batting and insisted that India must develop the ability to defend imposing totals regardless of the circumstances.

“You cannot brush aside any defeat. If you want to keep getting better, you cannot sweep anything under the carpet. We are a world-champion team, and that is why we want to keep improving,” Gambhir said.

He added that bowling became particularly challenging on a flat surface with heavy dew, but India needed to find solutions even when the opposition had suffered early setbacks.

“Bowling in these conditions is difficult. We know that a flat pitch and dew make things tougher for the bowlers. But we have to find a way to stop the opposition, especially when they have lost two wickets in the first over and three wickets inside the first six overs,” he said.

## Gambhir Refuses to Blame Mayank for Dropped Catch

A crucial moment in the West Indies innings came on the final delivery of the 10th over, when Mayank Yadav dropped a relatively straightforward catch offered by Sherfane Rutherford at short fine leg. Rutherford was batting on 38 at the time.

The reprieve proved costly for India as Rutherford went on to smash 84 off just 37 deliveries, turning the momentum decisively in the visitors’ favour.

India’s catching efficiency in T20 Internationals against Full Member nations had stood at 74.3 per cent during the year, making it the second-worst among those teams. Nevertheless, Gambhir refused to single out the dropped catch as the reason for the defeat.

“That is cricket. Players drop catches. It has happened before, and it will happen again. I do not think anyone does it deliberately. So, nobody should be blamed for such things,” he said.

## Gambhir Impressed by Mayank’s Express Pace

Despite the dropped catch, Mayank made a significant contribution with the ball, claiming three wickets and helping India gain the upper hand at a crucial stage of the contest.

The young fast bowler consistently operated at around 145 kilometres per hour and bowled Rovman Powell with a delivery clocked at 149.5 kilometres per hour.

In the opening T20 International in Lucknow, Mayank had also mixed his pace with slower deliveries. This time, however, Gambhir praised his willingness to rely on his natural strength and attack with express pace.

“He is a fast bowler, and he should bowl like a fast bowler. He is not a slow bowler. If you can bowl at 150 kilometres per hour, bowl at 150. If you can bowl at 120, bowl at 120. As a fast bowler, your job is to bowl fast. That is exactly what he did today, and that is why he was successful,” Gambhir said.

Following the defeat in Ranchi, India have little time to regroup before the third T20 International, scheduled to be played in Indore on Sunday.

The venue is also known for producing high-scoring encounters, meaning India’s bowlers are likely to face another demanding test as the series continues.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar