Sunil Gavaskar Questions India's Bowling Tactics After West Indies Chase Down 250 in Ranchi

New Delhi, Oct 10: Batting great Sunil Gavaskar has questioned India's bowling decisions in the second T20I against the West Indies, suggesting that pacers Mayank Yadav or Arshdeep Singh should have been entrusted with the crucial 17th over instead of wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav during the visitors' six-wicket victory in Ranchi.

The West Indies chased down India's imposing total of 250, reaching the target in 18.3 overs on Friday to level the five-match series 1-1. Kuldeep's over proved decisive in the contest, as he conceded 24 runs, including three sixes and a boundary, along with a wide, allowing the visitors to seize control of the chase.

Speaking to JioStar, Gavaskar felt India missed an opportunity to put the West Indies under renewed pressure by holding back Mayank, who had already made significant inroads into the opposition's top order.

"Definitely! I would have gone with either Arshdeep or Mayank in the 17th over," Gavaskar said, acknowledging that Arshdeep also endured an expensive final over.

Mayank had claimed three wickets by dismissing Kamil Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell, leaving the West Indies struggling at 58 for three by the sixth over. Despite his economy rate of around 12 runs per over, Gavaskar believed the pace bowler's wicket-taking ability made him a viable option at a crucial stage of the innings.

Gavaskar argued that another breakthrough could have forced the West Indies to bring in a new batter under pressure, potentially shifting the momentum back in India's favour.
"Once you get a wicket, suddenly, the opposition is on the back foot. A new batter has to come in. So, maybe that could have been tried," he said.

The former India captain also questioned the decision to introduce Shivam Dube in the ninth over, suggesting that Kuldeep could have been brought into the attack earlier, when the batters were still settling in.

Arshdeep, who bowled the 18th over, conceded 17 runs to West Indies captain Shai Hope and Romario Shepherd. The visitors then moved closer to victory before taking Axar Patel for two sixes in the 19th over to complete the chase.

Chahal Raises Concerns Over Flat Pitches

Former India spinner Yuzvendra Chahal also expressed concern over the increasingly batter-friendly conditions in T20 cricket, arguing that flat pitches, dew and smaller boundaries are making life difficult for bowlers. Chahal said the conditions offered little assistance once the ball became older and the dew set in, allowing batters to play their shots more freely.

He pointed to the growing frequency of high-scoring chases in the Indian Premier League, noting that totals once considered competitive are increasingly being overhauled with time to spare.

Drawing on his own experience as a bowler, Chahal highlighted how scoring rates in the powerplay have risen significantly, putting greater pressure on bowling attacks from the outset.

"Earlier, when the Impact Player rule was not there, you used to see 50 runs in six overs, and 170-180 was a fighting total," Chahal said.

"But these days, 70-80 runs are scored in the first six overs, and the game is done there itself. So, either you have to have something for the bowlers in the wicket, or else just install a bowling machine," he added.

With the West Indies levelling the series in emphatic fashion, India's bowling combinations and strategies are likely to come under further scrutiny as the teams prepare for the remaining three matches.