Gautam Gambhir urges ICC to save bowlers from becoming 'programmed bowling machines'

Following the run-fest in Pune during the second ODI between India and England, former India opener Gautam Gambhir has urged the ICC to ‘urgently relook’ at the existing rules for the betterment of the bowlers. Both the teams scored more than 300 runs as England chased down 337 with ease to draw level in the three-match series.

Asked to bat first, India posted 336 for 6 in the allotted 50 overs. KL Rahul top-scored for the hosts with 108 while Rishabh Pant (77) and Virat Kohli (66) scored impressive fifties too. In reply, England took less than 44 overs to overhaul the target. The visitors, in fact, did not look under any sort of pressure throughout the chase and crossed the finishing line without breaking any sweat.

In-form Jonny Bairstow was the star of the show, slamming 124 off just 112 balls. Ben Stokes also took the India bowlers to the cleaners and smashed 99 off just 52 balls. Apart from Bairstow and Stokes, Jason Roy (55) also crossed the 50-run mark for England.

Krunal Pandya was the most expensive bowler, conceding 72 runs in just 6 overs while the likes of Tom Curran, Ben Stokes, and Kuldeep Yadav conceded more than 8 runs per over. With the pitch not offering much to the bowlers and the existing rules making things even tougher for them, bowlers from both sides were taken to the cleaners.

Gautam Gambhir’s appeal to ICC and BCCI:

With the India and England bowlers looking absolutely clueless during the second ODI, Gautam Gambhir has urged the ICC as well as BCCI to reconsider the existing rules. The legendary batsman pointed out that the bowlers look redundant because of the existing rules which favour batsmen. Gambhir urged the governing bodies to relook at the circle rule, two new balls rule, and the bouncer rules to ensure that the bowlers are not reduced to programmed bowling machines, writing:

“The rules of the game seem so lopsided in favour of batsmen that bowlers seem redundant, ‘also rans’. @ICC urgently needs to relook at the circle rule, two new balls, and bouncer restrictions. Otherwise, bowlers will be reduced to programmed bowling machines @bcci”

The rules of the game seem so lopsided in favour of batsmen that bowlers seem redundant, ‘also rans’. @ICC urgently needs to relook at the circle rule, two new balls and bouncer restrictions. Otherwise bowlers will be reduced to programmed bowling machines @bcci

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 26, 2021