IND vs NZ 2023: I think that’s always been one of India’s problems – Sunil Gavaskar on India’s bowling

India’s legendary former batter Sunil Gavaskar was not impressed with the team’s bowling after they narrowly won the first ODI against New Zealand by 12 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Wednesday.

India had New Zealand on the mat at 131-6 after 28.4 overs and it looked like the visitors had a mountain to climb. However, the Kiwis found brilliant climbers in Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell, who added a magnificent alliance of 162 runs for the seventh wicket, the highest for the Blackcaps in the 50-overs version and thus all but took the tourists to the top of that mountain.

Bracewell went on to score a magnum opus knock of 140 runs off just 78 balls after getting to the three-digit mark off just 57 balls. Furthermore, Santner took the backseat in the partnership and contributed with 45-ball 57. Both the left-handers took Indian bowling to the cleaners as they kept scoring at the required run rate.

However, there is no denying the fact that India’s bowling was mundane towards the end as they failed to hit the right areas under pressure. Except for Mohammed Siraj (4-46 in 10 overs) and Kuldeep Yadav (2-43 in 8 overs), all the Indian bowlers had to suffer.

Speaking to Sports Tak, Sunil Gavaskar said, “I think that’s always been one of India’s problems. Not being able to defend. India is always good at chasing. If a similar situation was given to India to chase 350 then I think the Indian batting with the depth (that they have) they would have got it.”

“As we saw, we have seen it earlier in the T20 format as well. India can get to 190-200 but sometimes struggles to defend that total. So clearly bowling is the area that has been a concern for a while. That is where you find a little more churning going on.”

Indian batting has been outstanding in the recent past but the bowlers need to pull up their socks. The team has recently played on some batting paradise pitches but the execution could be better from the Indian bowlers, who are going for plenty at the fag end of the innings.

The second ODI between India and New Zealand will be played in Raipur on Saturday.