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Gautam Gambhir flags India's biggest challenge ahead of NZ ODIs

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

India enters the five-match ODI series relying on Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh to anchor a pace attack that includes three players with nine or fewer caps. Gautam Gambhir stated that bowlers decide overseas contests and deserve the credit if the squad triumphs. This transition follows a challenging 3-2 T20I series win where the majority of the roster had never toured New Zealand before. To remain competitive against prepared opponents, players like opener Abhishek Sharma have had to undergo targeted net sessions to correct technical vulnerabilities.

Key points

  • Gautam Gambhir believes bowling performance ultimately dictates match results during over…: Gautam Gambhir believes bowling performance ultimately dictates match results during overseas cricket tours.
  • A significant majority of the recent T20I squad was touring New Zealand for the very firs…: A significant majority of the recent T20I squad was touring New Zealand for the very first time.
  • Individual technical adaptations are necessary to counter opposing teams that routinely a…: Individual technical adaptations are necessary to counter opposing teams that routinely analyze batter tendencies.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

NEW DELHI: India head coach

Gautam Gambhir has identified the inexperienced bowling attack as the biggest challenge facing the visitors in the upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand, beginning November 4. With Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya unavailable, India will have to depend on a relatively inexperienced group of pacers, led by

Mohammed Siraj and

Arshdeep Singh.

Gambhir believes that if India manage to deliver results in the ODI series, the bowlers should receive much of the credit rather than the more experienced batting unit. The challenge is particularly significant with India having to balance preparations for the white-ball matches and the two-Test series scheduled towards the end of the tour.

"It's important for me to win every series. It's not just about winning in New Zealand. It's challenging to win every series. Because if you look at it, this will probably be the most inexperienced bowling attack in ODI cricket," Gambhir said on Sunday.

The numbers underline his concern. Siraj, with 51 ODIs, is the most experienced pacer in the group. Arshdeep has played 18, while Auqib Nabi…

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