In Gautam Gambhir’s first series as India’s head coach, we saw a surprising move: part-time bowlers stepping up. Riyan Parag played all three matches, Rinku Singh bowled a crucial over, and captain Suryakumar Yadav bowled the final over when Sri Lanka needed just 9 runs to win. Is this a coincidence? Not likely!
The Decline of Part-Time Bowlers
Gautam Gambhir joined the Indian team in 2003 when many top batters were also skilled bowlers. Legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, and Yuvraj Singh often bowled and bailed India out of tricky situations. This trend continued into the next decade, significantly contributing to India’s ODI World Cup win in 2011. Yuvraj Singh, for instance, was named ‘Player of the Tournament’ with 11 wickets and 343 runs.
However, this trend faded. Suresh Raina was the last batter who bowled regularly, and Kedar Jadhav was given the ball sporadically. Over the past decade, stars like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Shikhar Dhawan haven’t bowled in matches, leaving India without this valuable advantage.
A Transition Underway
Gambhir is changing this approach. Shivam Dube was chosen over Rinku Singh for the T20 World Cup due to his medium-pace bowling skills. Both Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, left-arm all-rounders, played together, leading India to its first ICC trophy in 13 years.
Recognizing the need for versatile players, Gambhir wants to revive the era where batters also bowled. This strategy provides a safety net when main bowlers struggle. Before the ODI series started on August 2, Shreyas Iyer was seen bowling in the nets. Yashasvi Jaiswal has expressed his readiness to bowl leg spin whenever needed.
Even with all-rounders like Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, and Washington Sundar, Gambhir encourages players like Parag, Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer to hone their bowling skills. This versatility ensures that the team has extra options and remains competitive in any situation.
What do you think of Gambhir’s strategy? Should more batters start bowling again? Share your thoughts and join the conversation!
