Interim Bowling Coach Sairaj Bahutule Advocates for Indian Batters to Bowl More Often

In the aftermath of the first ODI match between India and Sri Lanka, which ended in a dramatic tie, interim bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule shared his vision for the Indian cricket team, highlighting the potential of batters to contribute with the ball. This strategy aims to enhance the team’s versatility and adaptability in various match situations.

Batters as Bowlers: A New Strategy

During the post-match press conference, Bahutule expressed confidence in the bowling abilities of Indian batters, stating, “I think our batters are good bowlers as well. Their primary skill is batting, so they don’t focus much on bowling, but they have the skills.” This perspective was particularly evident when Shubman Gill, who was given the opportunity to bowl for the first time in an international match, conceded 14 runs in his one-over spell.

Bahutule pointed to the successful contributions of Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadav in the recent T20I series, where both players made significant impacts with the ball. “Like we saw in the T20Is, the way Rinku and Suryakumar contributed and made India win the match. Similarly, Shubman Gill was given an opportunity, and in the coming time, it is definitely going to be an all-rounder’s game,” he added.

Embracing the All-Rounder Concept

The interim coach emphasized that the inclusion of batters as part-time bowlers could serve as a strategic advantage, particularly in tight match situations. “But if in the top four or five, if someone can bowl, that definitely helps the team. Moving forward, you will see more contributions,” Bahutule noted.

He elaborated on how this approach could act as a surprise element for opponents, allowing the team to adapt its strategy based on pitch conditions and match scenarios. “I think we can use our bowlers as per the situation and the pitch conditions. Somebody who can bowl as a batter can be a surprise element for the opponent. So, moving ahead, there will be ample opportunities for the batters to bowl,” he stated.

Match Recap 

In the first ODI, Sri Lanka batted first and set a target of 230 runs, with Pathum Nissanka and Dunith Wellalage leading the charge. India, in their chase, matched the score but were all out for 230, resulting in a thrilling tie. Rohit Sharma‘s captaincy and contributions from Axar Patel and KL Rahul were notable, but the match was ultimately defined by the bowling performances from both teams.

Wanindu Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka were instrumental for Sri Lanka, each taking three wickets. Dunith Wellalage was named the ‘Player of the Match’ for his outstanding performance.

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