Gautam Gambhir backs pacers despite Leeds disaster: Building a battery for future

India Today

5 hours ago

India head coach Gautam Gambhir asked the fans and critics not to judge the young Indian bowling attack after every Test match. India crashed and burned in the Leeds Test match, failing to defend 371 runs in the final innings. Apart from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj to a certain extent, the rest of the Indian pacers were rendered ineffective by the Bazballing English team.advertisementGambhir shielded the Indian pace attack after their disastrous show in Leeds, stating that the group of Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, and Arshdeep Singh were inexperienced and needed time to realise their full potential in the red-ball format."This pace attack comprises one bowler who has played four Tests (Prasidh Krishna), there is another who has played two Tests (Harshit Rana), and one who hasn't played a Test (Arshdeep Singh)," Gambhir told the press in the post-match press conference.
"In ODIs, it doesn't matter, but on tours of England and Australia, these are tough places. It is like throwing them in the sea. If we start judging bowlers after every Test, how do we develop them?" he added.India Building Long-Term Pace BatteryThe head coach said that the fast bowlers India have carried in their line-up were exceptionally talented and would serve the Indian team for a long time if they were backed consistently.advertisementHis comments come in the backdrop of a poor Test match from Prasidh Krishna, who leaked runs at over 6 per over, handing the advantage to the English side. India have Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, and Arshdeep Singh on the bench, who are expected to be called up in the next matches."If we leave out Bumrah and Siraj, there is not much experience in the line-up, but we need to back them as they have got talent. They have got quality and that is why they are in this dressing room. It's about building a pace battery that will serve India for a long time. It's not about just this tour."
Courtesy: Reuters
Shardul Thakur Bowling Only 16 OversThe use of Shardul Thakur with the ball raised eyebrows during the Test match, with critics commenting on the lack of trust shown in the veteran all-rounder. Shardul, who has had successful tours in England and Australia before, bowled only 16 overs in the Test match.Gambhir said that it was the captain's instinct to give the all-rounder fewer overs as Ravindra Jadeja was containing runs well from one end.advertisement"Sometimes a captain goes with his instincts, and Ravindra Jadeja gave us control in the first innings. That was important, and we could rotate our three pacers at the other end," Gambhir said."We know what Shardul's quality is, and that is why he is playing for India and is in the dressing room. Just because he is the fourth seamer does not necessarily mean that he has to be brought ahead of a spinner. A captain went by his instinct and depending on the surface we were playing," he added.- EndsTune InMust Watch