Rules Of The Game Seem So Lopsided In Favour Of Batsmen - Gautam Gambhir Asks ICC To 'Urgently' Act

Former India batsman, Gautam Gambhir demands the International Cricket Council (ICC) to make amends in some of the rules in white-ball cricket – particularly in ODIs – which imbalances the game heavily towards the batsman.

Gautam Gambhir makes such a call after England comfortably chased down the target of 337 runs in 43.3 overs against India in the second ODI on Friday. Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow put on another hundred partnership, and the latter continued to assault the Indian bowlers in a 175-run stand with Ben Stokes as England made a mockery of the chase.

In the first ODI as well, India put on 317 on the board; in reply, England openers raced their way to 135 in 14.2 overs before collapsing.

Bowlers will be reduced to programmed bowling machines: Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir opines that the governing body needs to being parity between bat and ball in white-ball cricket. He points out that the powerplay restrictions, new balls at each end – which has resulted in little reverse swing for pacers – and the bouncer limit as well, have contributed to embolden the batsman to play with freedom.

The 2011 World Cup winner reckons that the bowlers have become superfluous with these rules against them, and they might as well be replaced by bowling machines.

Flat pitches, the bigger bats, muscle strengthening of the batters, smaller boundaries, are further additions to the list of aspects that have tilted the game significantly in the favour of the batsman than the bowlers. The third ODI is scheduled for Sunday at the same venue and another batting beauty could be expected serving lots of runs.

“The rules of the game seem so lopsided in favour of batsmen that bowlers seem redundant, ‘also rans’. @ICC urgently needs to relook at the circle rule, two new balls and bouncer restrictions. Otherwise bowlers will be reduced to programmed bowling machines @bcci” Gautam Gambhir tweeted.

The rules of the game seem so lopsided in favour of batsmen that bowlers seem redundant, ‘also rans’. @ICC urgently needs to relook at the circle rule, two new balls and bouncer restrictions. Otherwise bowlers will be reduced to programmed bowling machines @bcci

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 26, 2021

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