Follow UsThe win in the Delhi Test was not enough to please the tough task master Gautam Gambhir. The Indian head coach was miffed with the wicket at his home ground not having carry and bounce in it as the match stretched to Day five of the second Test of the two-match series.
"I thought that we could have had a better wicket here. Yes, we did get the result on day five, but again, I think nicks need to carry. I think there has to be something for the fast bowlers as well,” Gambhir was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
“I know we keep talking about spinners playing an important role, but when you have got probably two quality fast bowlers in your ranks, we still want them to be in the game as well,” he added.
Talking about the importance of wickets in keeping Test cricket alive, Gambhir said that it is okay if there is not enough turn, like it was the case in Ahmedabad for the first Test, but bounce and carry are mandatory.
“Carry wasn't there, [it] was a bit alarming, and I think going forward, [I hope] 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,” said the 44-year-old.
Praising the West Indies batting for coming good in the second Test after a horrible showing in the first, Gambhir asserted that the need for a strong West Indian side is the need of the hour in world cricket.
"I have always believed that world cricket needs West Indian cricket. That is something which is very important. It was very nice to see them fight. And obviously, they are an inexperienced team and there are a lot of changes that have happened there, but the way they fought in the second innings will give them a lot of confidence,” he said.
India will next move to Australia for a limited-overs tour where they will play three ODIs and five T20Is.