The Guwahati pitch has come under severe scrutiny after India pulled off their highest-ever successful ODI run chase against the West Indies on Wednesday (September 30).
Chasing a colossal target of 406 runs, the Men in Blue reached home in just 43.3 overs to secure an eight-wicket victory and wrap up the series 2-0.
The high-scoring second ODI saw a combined 811 runs scored across less than 94 overs. The visitors posted 405/7 featuring centuries from John Campbell (101), Shai Hope (104), and Amir Jangoo (114).
India's successful chase was headlined by Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 223 off 133 balls—the fastest ODI double-century off 117 deliveries. The skipper was well supported by Rohit Sharma's 101 off 75 balls as the duo stitched a 255-run opening stand to lay the foundation.
Amid the criticism of pitch, legendary Sunil Gavaskar defended the wicket served at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, citing that there was something in it for the bowlers.
"There was something in it for the bowlers if they bent their backs. We saw that when Seales was pumped up after Rohit's wicket and bowled a searing bouncer that went for four wides. It's just that the batting was so good that some of the better deliveries were hammered for a six. In such a scenario, there is nothing the bowlers can do. You can't blame the pitch. It was the quality of the batting that was simply too good," Gavaskar said while speaking to India Today.
He commended Gill for making a mockery of the pitch and the Caribbean bowlers. "He (Gill) scores big in all formats of the game. There is grace that comes through in his batting. Even his lofted sixes seem to be graceful and a hammer. His assessment of the situation and the opposition bowlers is outstanding. His awareness of the fields is also brilliant, for a young batter like him. The world is his oyster, and he can go on to break just about every record there is, if he carries on in this manner," Gavaskar added.
The former cricketer-turned-commentator also slammed Rohit’s critics after the veteran opener smashed his 35th ODI ton. It was his second century in last three ODI innings.
During his three-figure score in Guwahati, Rohit completed 12,000 runs in ODI cricket, becoming only the third Indian to reach this milestone after Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar.
"Questions about his place have been asked by people who really shouldn't be asking such questions. The way he has been batting from the 2023 World Cup has been totally unselfish. So he will take chances in the powerplay, and in that, he will get out. And when he does carry on, he'll get a big hundred and a big partnership. It'll mean India can chase any Total and set a total in excess of 350 every time," Gavaskar remarked.
