IND vs BAN: "Whenever The Ball Grips, We Struggle And..." - Gautam Gambhir Tears Apart Indian Batters After Struggles Against Spinners

Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir criticized Indian batters’ struggles against spin bowlers during the Super Four clash against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023. Gautam Gambhir emphasized that Indian batters need to adapt to the conditions when the ball grips.

The Rohit Sharma-led team secured a 41-run victory over Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday, September 12. However, the Men in Blue lost all 10 wickets to spinners. Young Sri Lanka spinner Dunith Wellalage picked up his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs.

This Is Becoming Patter – Gautam Gambhir

Speaking to Star Sports during the rain delay after the 47th over of India’s innings, Gautam Gambhir expressed disappointment over the dismissals of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. He recalled Indian batters’ struggles against Australia in Chennai, when Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar picked up six wickets.

“This is becoming a pattern. You remember that match against Australia in Chennai when the ball was gripping a bit and India were chasing some 260 odd runs against spinners like Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar.

And we couldn’t chase it. Whenever the ball grips, we struggle and we don’t even know whether we can take the game deep. This is not a 350-run wicket…it’s of 270. Imagine if in 40 overs you are three down for 160 or 170, then when the ball grips, it is very important for the batters to adjust.

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul’s were soft dismissals, but rest were beaten by the front foot. Rohit Sharma was beaten by pace, Gill by…that was a brilliant ball. You expect better from Indian batters,” Gautam Gambhir said.

Wellalage ran through the Indian top-order batters and dismissed Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya. Part-timer Charith Asalanka wrapped up the tail and registered figures of 4 for 18 in 9 overs.

Necessary To Play It Off The Backfoot – Gautam Gambhir

The former Indian opener stated that playing deliveries that spin from a wide angle can be challenging for the batters, emphasizing the importance of playing them off the backfoot rather than the front foot.

“As a batsman we often try to play the angle, but if the ball spins from there then things become difficult. If you deliver it closer to the wicket then it becomes easier, but when you deliver it wider from the crease then it becomes difficult,” Gambhir further added.

“And that is why it is necessary to play it off the backfoot rather than front foot, where both the edges are tested. Look at Hardik’s dismissal. And you mentioned (Ajantha) Mendis…he had carrom ball and we did not even know how those deliveries would behave. But these were proper left-arm spin deliveries,” he concluded.

Following the victory against the Dasun Shanaka-led team, India sealed their berth in the final of the Asia Cup. The Rohit Sharma-led team will face Bangladesh in their final Super Four match at the same venue on Friday, September 15.

Also read: IND vs PAK: Gautam Gambhir Speaks On KL Rahul’s 111-Run Knock Against Pakistan In Asia Cup 2023, Says ‘Not Just Him, The Entire Country Is Happy’