More bowling experiments in the Gautam Gambhir era? India coach gives big tip

Bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule has indicated that India will continue to give bowling opportunities to their top-order batsmen as this can act as an “element of surprise” for the opposition. Shubman Gill had the chance to roll his arm against Sri Lanka in the first ODI, which ended in a draw here on Friday, and Bahutule said that will be the way forward even though the opener lost 14 runs in its only over. “I think our hitters are good pitchers too, to be honest. You know their main skill is batting, so sometimes they don’t focus much on bowling. But they have the skills,” Bahutule said in the post-match press conference.

In contrast, Lanka’s captain and their opening batsman Charith Asalanka bowled 8.5 overs and came away with returns of three for 30, including the wickets of Shivam Dube and Arshdeep Singh in two successive balls, helping his team to a draw.

Bahutule used the example of Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh bowling in the T20Is against Sri Lanka to validate his point.

“You must have seen in the T20Is…Rinku and Surya contributed with the ball. So Shubman was given an opportunity here. It will be a versatile game in the coming days.

“So, if one or two (batsmen) from the front row can bowl, it will definitely help the team, of course, depending on the field conditions and situations.

“Also, it will be an element of surprise for the opposition if a batsman manages to bowl. So, going forward there will be ample opportunities for batsmen to bowl,” he explained.

Bahutule said the visitors could have tried to forge better partnerships after coming out of the blocks brilliantly.

“Having a draw in an ODI is always exciting. Yes, we should have made that run and finished the game. Even so, I thought we played very well.

“We batted well in some stretches and could have had few partnerships that would have taken us (home) with fewer wickets,” he said.

Bahutule admitted that the Lankan spinners used the nature of the pitch to the fullest.

“I think the nature of the pitch and the way they played…Hasaranga and Asalanka executed their skills very well.

“We tried our best to get into partnerships and Shivam (Dube) also batted well and contributed. But yes, we could have made an extra effort to score that one run.”

The former Indian spinner said the team should have taken advantage of the start given by captain Rohit Sharma, who hit 58 off 47 balls.

It helped India reach 75 in 12.4 overs before the rot set in.

“Rohit’s start was fantastic and at one point it looked like we wouldn’t lose many wickets. That (the way Rohit batted) was important when the ball was hard and reaching the bat. I think it was his first ODI innings after the World Cup (50-plus).

“It didn’t feel like there was a break. He takes responsibility, sets the tone against any opposition, any quick attack. He is very positive in his intention.” Bahutule lamented the fact that Sri Lanka managed to add a few extra runs after being reduced to 142 for six.

“They had a partnership after we reduced them to 160 for six, maybe we could have got them for 15-20 runs less. But overall, I think the players did well. Arshdeep and Siraj started well and Shivam bowled well on a wicket which was a bit useful for the spinners.

“I think the spinners – Washi, Axar and Kuldeep – contributed well. Restricting them to 230 was, I think, a good effort,” she added.