India head coach Gautam Gambhir urges the team to address bowling weaknesses after West Indies chased 250 in the second T20I in Ranchi. Shai Hope’s unbeaten century and Sherfane Rutherford’s explosive 84 levelled the five-match series at 1-1.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has urged his team not to overlook any defeat as India look to improve their bowling performance following a six-wicket loss to the West Indies in the second T20 International in Ranchi. The visitors successfully chased down India’s imposing target of 250 runs, levelling the five-match series at 1-1.
Despite an encouraging start with the ball, India failed to defend their massive total as West Indies batters Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford produced outstanding performances. Hope remained unbeaten on 102, while Rutherford smashed 84 runs off just 37 deliveries, helping the visitors register their highest successful chase in T20 International cricket.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Gambhir stressed that India must learn from their mistakes rather than ignore the shortcomings exposed by the defeat. He acknowledged that bowling in dew-laden conditions on a batting-friendly surface was challenging but insisted that the team needed to find solutions.
“You don’t shrug off any defeat. If you want to keep improving, you don’t want to put anything under the carpet,” Gambhir said, underlining the expectations associated with a team that has established itself as world champions.
The India head coach also praised the West Indies batters for their exceptional performance, acknowledging their ability to take advantage of the conditions and turn the match around despite losing early wickets.
India had initially appeared to be in control after reducing the West Indies to 58 for three inside the powerplay. Fast bowler Mayank Yadav made an immediate impact by striking twice in the opening over, putting the visitors under early pressure. However, Hope and Rutherford responded with an aggressive partnership that shifted the momentum decisively in West Indies’ favour.
The pair added 120 runs, dismantling India’s bowling attack and keeping the required run rate within reach. Rutherford’s explosive innings of 84 off 37 balls provided the acceleration, while Hope anchored the chase with a composed century. The West Indies eventually reached the target with six wickets remaining.
Earlier, India had posted a formidable 249 for five, powered by Sanju Samson’s impressive 82 off 41 deliveries. Tilak Varma also made a valuable contribution with 44 runs, helping India build a total that appeared sufficient to put the visitors under considerable pressure.
However, the West Indies batting display exposed India’s difficulties in containing aggressive batters under challenging conditions. The result also renewed the debate over achieving a fair balance between bat and ball in modern T20 cricket, particularly on flat pitches where dew can make it difficult for bowlers to grip the ball and execute their plans.
Gambhir emphasised that the game should provide bowlers with a reasonable opportunity to compete rather than overwhelmingly favour batters.
“You don’t want a good bat-and-ball competition?” he asked, explaining that an even contest would produce better cricket. He also highlighted the personal and professional stakes for India’s bowlers, who work hard to earn their places in the national team.
“These bowlers are our bowlers, not someone else’s bowlers. Their careers are at stake, they have worked hard to sit in this dressing room. If it’s an even competition, we’ll see a better game of cricket,” Gambhir said.
The coach also defended Mayank Yadav’s decision to rely on his natural pace rather than frequently use slower deliveries. According to Gambhir, a fast bowler should trust his primary strength and bowl according to his capabilities.
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“He is a fast bowler, he should bowl like a fast bowler,” Gambhir said, adding that a bowler capable of delivering at 150 kilometres per hour should not hesitate to use that pace. He noted that Mayank had followed the expected approach and achieved success during his spell.
With the five-match T20I series now level at 1-1, India will need to address their bowling concerns and improve their execution in difficult conditions. Gambhir’s message was clear: the team must learn from every defeat, remain accountable and continue working towards a more competitive and consistent performance.
