Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir, who won the World Cup, has called for the elimination of the “worst thing” to have occurred to One-Day International (ODI) cricket: the usage of two new balls.
The audience’s interest in the 50-over format has been steadily declining in recent years, making it increasingly less relevant. The addition of two new balls, which Gambhir claims has severely hurt the finger spinners, hasn’t improved the format either.
“In one-day cricket, two fresh balls are perhaps the worst thing that can happen to the sport. Consider how many one-day cricket players are finger spinners. The only explanation for why Nathan Lyon and R Ashwin, two players with 400 wickets apiece, are not in the One Day squad is that there is no need for a finger spinner, Gambhir stated on the podcast 180 Not Out.
Gambhir also brought out the fact that the enactment of the aforementioned regulation eliminated backward swing from the game. The circumstances do not promote reverse swing, which was a powerful tool for bowlers at the conclusion of the game before the regulation change. There are two balls at each end.
“Reverse swing is no longer in the game at all. “I want to see batters challenged, I want to see reverse swing, and it’s always a challenge when someone bowls at 150 and reverses the ball,” stated Gambhir.
“One rule that needs to change is getting rid of two new balls and having only one.”
Gambhir as the head coach?
The BCCI may have asked the former Indian cricket player to lead Team India because of his reputation for candidly delivering his thoughts without reservation. After the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA, Rahul Dravid’s time with Team India comes to an end, and the BCCI has requested applicants for the role.
Despite not having coached a national team yet, Gambhir has an equally stellar IPL record. As the current manager of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who won the Indian Premier League twice, in 2012 and 2014, Gambhir led the team to their first-ever first-place finish in the group stages this season.
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