‘Install A Bowling Machine’ - Yuzvendra Chahal Slams Flat Pitches In India

Yuzvendra Chahal Slams Flat Pitches [Source: AFP]Veteran Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal strongly criticised the playing conditions in the T20 format after West Indies’ record chase against India in the second T20I held at Ranchi. Chahal advocated for better treatment of bowlers with a quirky jibe.His reaction stemmed from the second T20I, where West Indies chased down 250 runs against India in 18.3 overs. Captain Shai Hope scored a century while Sherfane Rutherford hammered 84 off 37 balls.Yuzvendra Chahal takes a stand for bowlers’ apathyMeanwhile, the bowling attack of both India and West Indies had a rough day, with almost every player conceding at an economy of over 10. This apathy of bowlers prompted a strong reaction from Yuzvendra Chahal.In his chat with JioHotstar, Chahal expressed his disapproval of flat pitches and shorter grounds. He feels the bowlers’ skills are useless unless the surface has something to offer them.“On such wickets, there’s nothing for the bowlers. When the ball gets old, there’s dew, the ball comes nicely onto the bat, and the grounds are getting smaller. We’ve seen this in the IPL as well, with 260 being chased in 19 overs. In this game too, 250 got chased down easily in 18.3 overs. So, what should bowlers do? What is the use of their skill?" Chahal said.ALSO READGautam Gambhir Demands Balanced Pitches After West Indies' Historic Run Chase vs IndiaNot only that, Chahal sarcastically suggested installing a bowling machine instead of making the bowlers work hard on flat pitches. Overall, Yuzvendra Chahal appealed for even playing conditions, especially in the T20 format."I feel for them, because I am a bowler too and when I bowl in the IPL, on small grounds with flat wickets, you have an Impact Player as well. Earlier, when the Impact Player rule was not there, you used to see 50 runs in six overs, and 170-180 was a fighting total. But these days, 70-80 runs are scored in the first six overs, and the game is done there itself. So, either you have to have something for the bowlers in the wicket, or else just install a bowling machine," he added.The concerning trend of high-scoring games in IndiaInterestingly, Yuzvendra Chahal’s frustration over difficult conditions for bowlers in white-ball cricket didn’t stem from the West Indies vs India 2nd T20I alone. It exposed the broader concerning trend where batters received an unfair advantage.Before the T20I series, West Indies and India competed in an ODI series as well. In the second ODI, the visitors scored 405 runs, and India chased it down comfortably in 43.3 overs after Shubman Gill’s double century.Not only that, in the third ODI held at Chandigarh, both teams scored nearly 350 runs individually. Hence, the bowlers have suffered throughout the series as pitches have played against them.ALSO READIndia Champions vs South Africa Champions Prediction- Match 11, Who Will Win Today? WCL 2026