Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir is concerned about the performance of his batters. This concern stems not only from the team being bundled out for just 89 runs in the fourth ODI against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui, but also from the fact that, in the second ODI, they had lost 7 wickets for 111 runs while chasing a target of 135.
India currently leads the series 2-1, with the final ODI scheduled to be played this Sunday, also at Mount Maunganui.
Speaking at a press conference following the match on Friday night, Gautam Gambhir stated that there is no point in ignoring these issues. He noted that this is not an isolated incident; in the previous match as well, the team had lost seven wickets for 111 or 112 runs. The fact that this is being discussed now is simply because India suffered a defeat today.
He acknowledged that this is undoubtedly a major defeat, but emphasized that losing seven wickets for 111 runs while chasing a target of 135—as happened in the previous game—is certainly a cause for concern. Since the bowlers are receiving some assistance from the conditions, the batters must be prepared—not just mentally, but also in terms of their technical skills.
He stated that, given these conditions, one cannot expect to score 70 to 80 runs in the first 10 overs of an ODI match. Scoring 35 to 40 runs without the loss of a wicket would also be considered a good start.
In India, the first 10 to 15 overs are the easiest for batting, whereas here, this is the most challenging phase. This is the fundamental difference in these conditions. Given the experience within the Indian side, it is hoped that the team will succeed in adapting to these conditions in the final match.
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