India‘s head coach Gautam Gambhir stated that playing T20 matches on flat pitches has contributed to the decline of solid defensive batting techniques in Test cricket, ahead of the final Test against New Zealand in Mumbai. India set a record for their lowest-ever Test total at home, being all out for 46 in the first innings of the series opener in Bengaluru.
They followed this with another lackluster performance in the second Test in Pune, scoring 156 and 245. As a result, India lost their first home Test series since 2012/13, with the Black Caps leading 2-0 in the best-of-three series.
During a press conference before the third Test in Mumbai, Gambhir addressed the decline in Test batting skills, as reported by Cricbuzz.
“Probably has a lot to do with playing on flat wickets in T20. We need to keep tightening our game. But you will see probably going forward in future, we’ll have the same issues with a lot of other teams as well. Because the more the T20 cricket is played, the lesser people will start defending,” he said.
Gambhir further added:
“To be a successful Test cricketer, you see people like Virat, you see all the great players who’ve done really well in Test cricket for a long period of time, they’ve always had good defence. The foundation of your batting in Test cricket has to be defence. And then you start taking up from there.”
As many teams embrace an aggressive strategy in Test matches, the focus on survival, even on difficult pitches, has diminished in modern cricket.
“Development isn’t just about hitting the ball out of the park”- Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir emphasized that a batter’s development relies on enhancing their defensive skills, particularly against spin, rather than just expanding their range of shots. He noted that in the future, India will aim to identify red-ball specialists who can play patiently, rather than focusing solely on scoring quickly.
“A complete cricketer is a cricketer who plays T20 format really successfully and also Test cricket really successfully. He can adapt his game. And that is what growth is. Growth is not only going about hitting the ball in the stands.”
“It’s also about batting sessions on a turning track, where you know that you will not be able to hit in the stands, but you will be able to rotate better. For that, I think the foundation is very, very important,” said Gambhir at the aforementioned presser.
He added:
“But going forward, obviously, we will have to identify players who are solid red ball cricketers. Because ultimately, to get the results, you will have to work really hard for three or four days or five days to be honest.”
“So sometimes, as I just mentioned, it’s important if we can bat sessions, we know that we’ve got the bowling attack to take 20 wickets. At the moment, it’s difficult to answer.”
India must seek swift solutions in the third Test against New Zealand to prevent an embarrassing home series whitewash, which would be their first since 2000. This series marks Gautam Gambhir’s second Test assignment as head coach, following a 2-0 victory over Bangladesh in his first.
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