Cricket

Gautam Gambhir Calls for ICC to Reassess Two New Balls Rule in Limited Overs CricketFormer Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reconsider the rule allowing two new balls in limited overs cricket. Gambhir believes the regulation is "unfair" to finger spinners and has diminished the art of reverse swing.In 2011, the ICC introduced the use of two new balls in ODIs, a move that was met with criticism from some quarters. Gambhir echoed these concerns, stating that the rule has disadvantaged finger spinners and reduced their opportunities in white-ball cricket."It is very unfair for finger spinners, who are not playing enough white-ball cricket because there is nothing for them," Gambhir said. "It is not right."The use of two new balls has also impacted reverse swing, as the ball maintains its shine for a longer duration. This has made it more difficult for bowlers to generate reverse swing, a skill that was once a key weapon in limited overs cricket."There is no reverse swing anymore because of the two new balls, and there is nothing for finger spinners or left-arm spinners," Gambhir added.Gambhir, who recently mentored the Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title, believes the ICC should reassess the rule to ensure a fair balance between bat and ball."Taking that opportunity away from certain players is very unfair," he said. "Today, you hardly see any finger spinners playing white-ball cricket. Why? The blame lies not with them, but with the ICC."Gambhir also praised the leadership of MS Dhoni, under whom he enjoyed his most successful years in international cricket."I had my best performance under Anil Kumble and I had my phase under MS Dhoni, and the longest I played was under MS," he said. "I enjoyed playing a lot with MS and the way he led the team."

Gautam Gambhir Slams Two New Balls Rule in ODI Cricket, Calls for Return to Single BallFormer Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has vehemently criticized the use of two new balls in One-Day International (ODI) cricket, arguing that it severely disadvantages finger spinners and diminishes the art of reverse swing.Gambhir, who currently serves as a mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, pointed out the glaring absence of prominent finger spinners like Nathan Lyon and Ravichandran Ashwin from ODI teams despite their exceptional records in Test cricket. Both Lyon and Ashwin have taken over 400 wickets in Test matches, but their effectiveness is significantly reduced in ODIs due to the two new balls rule."Two new balls in one-day cricket is probably the worst thing that can happen to one-day cricket," Gambhir asserted in a recent episode of the podcast series 180 Not Out. "Imagine how many finger spinners play one-day cricket. There's Nathan Lyon who's got 400 wickets, there's R Ashwin who's got 400 wickets, and they are not a part of the One Day team, and the only reason is that there is nothing for a finger spinner."Gambhir explained that the two new balls rule diminishes the effectiveness of finger spinners because the ball remains relatively new throughout the innings, providing less grip and turn for the bowlers. "Imagine someone who has taken 400 Test wickets will not play one day cricket because they don't become a wicket-taking option or they end up becoming a defensive option," he said.The former Indian international also lamented the impact of the two new balls rule on reverse swing, a crucial skill in the arsenal of fast bowlers. "Reverse swing... It has gone out of the game completely," Gambhir said. "I want to see reverse swing, I want to see batters getting challenged, and someone bowling at 150 and reversing the ball is always a challenge."Gambhir proposed a return to the traditional use of a single ball throughout the innings, which would allow for more wear and tear, thereby bringing reverse swing back into play and providing spinners with a greater opportunity to influence the game. "One rule that needs to change is getting rid of two new balls and having only one," he insisted.