The Indian team bowlers were not up to the mark on the third day as New Zealand finished with 101-2 and they are in arrears by 116 runs. Thus, the Kiwis are in a strong position after skittling out the Indian team for a paltry score of 217 runs as none of the Indian batsmen could go past the 50-run mark.
It was noticed that the Indian bowlers were slightly on the short side, which is not the correct length to bowl in English conditions. The ideal length is a tad fuller on English pitches but the Indian bowlers didn’t hit their mark.
However, former Indian wicket-keeper batsman Deep Dasgupta has put his weight behind the Indian pace battery and stated the bowlers get defensive when there is a below par score on the board.
“For those questioning whether Indian bowlers were too short, I would like to point out that when there’s a below-par score, bowlers get defensive subconsciously. They become wary of pitching it up because they wonder what will happen if batsmen drive them for four. Sometimes the bowlers get pressured by the scoreboard. You then start playing safe and being a bit defensive, and it is a natural effect of the scoreboard,” Deep Dasgupta explained while talking on YouTube Channel.
The renowned commentator added that if India had got a score of 300-325 runs on the board then the Indian bowlers would have bowled a tad fuller.
“If India had scored 300-325, I believe the bowlers would have pitched it fuller. Right now they are caught between taking wickets and not conceding any runs. Automatically, bowlers get a bit defensive. Despite that, Mohammed Shami bowled brilliantly. Other bowlers did well too, but they could have pitched it up a bit and attacked more. I wouldn’t blame the bowlers too much though. This is what happens when batsmen put up an under-par total on the board,” Deep Dasgupta suggested.
Furthermore, Mohammed Shami was the pick of the Indian bowlers as he troubled the Kiwis with his pace and extra bounce but he bowled without any luck. Dasgupta feels Shami should have taken the new ball with either Jasprit Bumrah or Ishant Sharma.
“We saw Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah take the new ball. I felt that Mohammed Shami should have taken the new ball because Bumrah and Ishant operate similarly – both bowlers move the ball away a bit whether it be through their natural angle or some swing. I felt one of them could have taken the new ball, and Mohammed Shami could have bowled from the other end. He is different, he has a straighter arm than most in international cricket. That way there could have been two different bowlers operating with the new ball,” Deep Dasgupta concluded.
