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In 2011, the International Cricket Council (ICC) implemented a rule in One Day Internationals (ODIs), allowing the use of two new balls during an innings. The objective behind this rule change was to ensure that a harder, newer ball would be available in the latter stages of the innings, encouraging more dynamic power hitting.
Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian opening batter who presently serves as the mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, has recently voiced criticism against this rule. He expressed discontent with the introduction of this regulation, questioning its impact on the game’s dynamics.
Gautam Gambhir expresses his disagreement with the ball change rule
While talking to Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube channel, Gambhir labelled the rule of allowing the use of two new balls in a match as the worst thing to occur in white-ball cricket. He argued that the change of ball after 25 overs in the innings negatively impacts finger spinners’ abilities.
“The worst thing that has happened in white-ball cricket is the introduction of two new balls. The reason why I say that is because you have taken away the entire skill of a finger spinner from a game, whether it be a left-arm spinner or an off-spinner,” Gambhir told Ashwin on his YouTube channel.
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Gambhir accuses ICC of messing things up
The 42-year-old emphasized the importance of ICC promoting all bowler types and urged the governing body to consider allowing the use of just one ball in ODI matches.
“The job of the ICC is to promote every kind of bowler who wants to become an off-spinner or a finger-spinner. I think the ICC has messed up. Hopefully, they can change it going forward and have just one ball used for the entire 50 overs of an ODI match,” Gambhir stated.
The Delhi-born cricketer pointed out that the introduction of this rule hindered spinners like Nathan Lyon and Ashwin from demonstrating their full potential in ODIs.
“I’ve said it everywhere. This rule has taken away two of the best finger spinners in the world, who should have played more white-ball cricket, you (Ashwin) and Nathan Lyon. The reason why you guys didn’t play was because there was nothing for you, against all these odds on a flat track with power hitters on a shirt boundary, and with DRS as well,” Gambhir concluded.
