Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has suggested that the ODI format should be played with the red-ball amid high-scoring matches in the ongoing three-match series between India and West Indies. A total of 811 runs were scored by both teams on a flat deck at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati on Wednesday.
West Indies posted a par score of 405-7 on the board after they were put into bat by Shubman Gill. John Campbell, Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo also scored centuries for the tourists.
However, India was able to chase down the gargantuan score with ease after Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma scored 233 and 101 runs respectively.
Ashwin said on his YouTube Channel, “There is a solution, but they are not ready to listen. That’s the problem. The solution is very simple. As I said, play ODI cricket with a red ball in whites. First, you will eliminate the dew factor. Next, the most important factor is day-night cricket, which gives an unfair advantage.”
The former Indian off-spinner questioned the Guwahati pitch for not offering any help to the bowlers.
“Let’s get one thing straight: the team management and the players do not have any control over this factor. Now, there is another side, the curator’s side. Have you ever heard in ODI cricket that a wicket was too flat and that I would rate this wicket as poor from a match referee? If you don’t hear such criticism, what message are you giving to the curator of that pitch?”
The former CSK player said if India had played South Africa at the same pitch, then 1000-run barrier might have been breached.
He concluded, “The one who prepared the Guwahati pitch would have gone home and slept peacefully because, according to him, the wicket had pace, it had bounce, and 810 runs were scored. Thank God the South Africa-India game didn’t happen yesterday because there was a good chance that the 1,000-run barrier would have been broken. There was a good chance India would have reached 500 against this West Indies bowling line-up yesterday.”
The third ODI between India and the West Indies will be played at New Chandigarh on Saturday.
