Gill, Gambhir's brain fade moment drags clueless India bowlers out of comfort zone

New Delhi: India have been so drunk on the success of their bowling attack performing on bowling friendly surfaces at home over the last 10 years that on Sunday during the second Test they forgot to take into account their limitations on flat surface like the one at Ferozeshah Kotla.

After the West Indies tail wagged in the first half of the third day on Sunday following quick wickets early on, pushing Indian attack to 81.5 overs, there was lesson that the pitch was still batting friendly and had no demons.

So it would have been wise for India to build on the first innings lead of 270 and bat for two to three sessions to set a 550-plus target for West Indies to chase in five sessions.

But for some reason, the Indian team management ended up underestimating the West Indies top-order and asked them to follow on.

Indian bowlers, bred on T20 cricket and led by a fragile Jasprit Bumrah who can’t be taken out of his comfort zone which is a four-over spell in a session, had no idea once opener John Campbell (87 not out off 145 balls) and Shai Hope (66 not out off 103 balls) decided to play sensibly.

By the end of the day, they had knocked off 173 out of the 270 run lead, trailing by just 97 and with eight wickets in hand. They may still possibly resort to the hara kiri of the first innings when they threw their wickets away instead of making India earn.

But for now the two unbeaten batsmen have given India captain Shubman Gill a headache.

The Indian bowlers have already bowled 130.5 overs at a stretch and they look tired and jaded. The shoulders were drooping at the end of the third day and it looked like the bowlers were dragging themselves. This is not an attack like the Australian or South African that can bowl over after over and keep coming at the batsmen.

They don’t even have the skill to work out wickets on surfaces that don’t provide help.

West Indies had given enough hint to India to not declare when they recovered to make 248 after being 175/8 in first innings.  

Yet, the team management that also includes coach Gautam Gambhir, thought they will run through the Windies in second innings too. They have failed so far.

West Indies have to now bat really poorly or India have to bowl extremely well to not make India bat again and chase a 100-plus target in fourth innings.

Tags : India cricket, Jasprit Bumrah, second Test, West Indies, Shai Hope, Shubman Gill, John Campbell