Kotak confident India’s batters can adapt to tougher conditions ahead of 2027 WC

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak criticised the lack of assistance for bowlers during the 811-run second ODI against West Indies in Guwahati. West Indies bowling coach Ravi Rampaul and India head coach Gautam Gambhir also called for a better bat-ball contest

Guwahati: India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak expressed disappointment over the stark imbalance between bat and ball during India’s record-breaking run chase of 406 against the West Indies, saying the pitch at the ACA Stadium offered little assistance to the bowling unit.

India chased down 406 with 39 balls to spare in the second ODI on Wednesday, in a match that produced five centuries, including a double hundred from skipper Shubman Gill, and a total of 811 runs.

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“There was not a lot for the bowlers. We wish that it is equally balanced. Maybe on a 300-run wicket, the other team has to fight hard to get that 300, 320 (is ideal). The outfield was quick and 20, 30, 40 runs go from there. Particularly in this game, yes, you do feel for the bowlers,” Kotak said at the conclusion of the game.

He reckoned India could have avoided conceding 400-plus runs to the West Indies, though he refrained from directly blaming the pitch curators.

“See, we keep talking about pitches. But, let me tell you, I don’t think anyone can make a perfect pitch in the world.

“No one can make a wicket and say that it will have only 250 or 300 runs. It is possible that the curator tries to make a match with 250 or 300 runs and the wicket spins or seams more and the team gets out for 150 runs. So, he will get criticism in that too.

“Sometimes I also wonder that, say in the 1983 World Cup, 180 runs in 60 overs were a lot. Today, it looks like 400 is also not enough. So, whether it is only the wicket to blame or the standard of batting is going high, the way guys are batting, it’s debatable,” he added.

His thoughts were echoed by West Indies bowling coach Ravi Rampaul, who pointed out that such pitches leave little margin for error.

“Flat pitches are everywhere now. This is flatter, more for batting, because it allows nothing for the spinners, nothing for the fast bowlers. Obviously, whoever scores more runs wins the game, and it’s tough for bowlers coming into these conditions and coming out without any set of wickets.”

With India scheduled to tour New Zealand before hosting Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in home ODIs, questions were raised on whether playing on such batting-friendly pitches could lead to a false sense of security ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Kotak, however, expressed confidence in the batting group’s ability to adapt to tougher surfaces.

“About preparation, I would say we will be playing five games in New Zealand. I have been to South Africa. Some wickets will be similar to our conditions.

“They also want to play on decent wickets because if you give uneven wickets in white-ball cricket, and if it is a low-scoring one-day game, nobody wants that. So, wickets may not be like 350, 400. It could be 300, 300+. But it depends. So, we should be preparing for whichever conditions are present.”

India head coach Gautam Gambhir was also critical of the pitch while speaking to broadcasters after the second ODI.

“Look, if I have to be absolutely honest, I feel I think there has to be a bit of more contest between bat and ball, because I think you talk about cricket – but this is not cricket, this is only batting.

“Because imagine a young bowler bowling on this wicket, and the opposition getting 400 and then we go on to chase 400. Obviously, for the records it’s outstanding, for the crowd it’s outstanding, and for the broadcaster it’s outstanding.

“But if you ask me as a genuine cricket fan and as a coach, because I have to have sympathy for the bowlers as well. 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. It’s not cricket, it’s batting.”