Ashwin warns India lack bowling quality after six-wicket loss to West Indies in Ranchi
Ravichandran Ashwin said he was worried about the future of India’s bowling after India lost to West Indies by six wickets in the second T20I in Ranchi on Friday, a defeat that left the five-match series level at 1-1. He raised concerns about the depth of India’s bowling resources and the side’s game awareness in high-scoring conditions.
The match produced 501 runs in 38.3 overs as India posted 249 for 5, powered by Sanju Samson’s 82 off 41 balls and Tilak Varma’s 44 off 18. West Indies reached 252 for 4 in 18.3 overs, with Shai Hope unbeaten on 102 off 45 and Sherfane Rutherford contributing 84 off 37; their 120-run fourth-wicket partnership turned the chase.
Speaking on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat after the loss, Ashwin said: “It’s not that I’m blaming the bowlers, but we don’t have enough quality in our bowling, and we haven’t placed enough emphasis on developing it. That is why the chances of producing high-quality bowlers remain quite low. I really hope we spend some time grooming high-quality bowlers because bowling in such conditions requires understanding and game awareness. I felt that was lacking a little today.” He added: “Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav were both fortunate in a way because, as captains, they had a cheat code in the form of Jasprit Bumrah. He can bowl defensively when required, and he also has a good variety of slower deliveries. But not many bowlers are that gifted, and I am genuinely worried about the future of Indian bowling.”
Ashwin also questioned specific tactical choices. “250 was a good score. I just feel India lacked a bit of defensive bowling. I mean, Shivam Dube was brought into the attack immediately after the powerplay. I think both captains, whether it was Shai Hope or Shreyas Iyer, had very average days today. Mayank Yadav picked up the first two or three wickets inside six overs, it would have been time to bring Kuldeep Yadav into the attack a little earlier.”
Mayank Yadav gave India an early advantage by taking three wickets inside the powerplay, including two in successive deliveries, and repeatedly crossed 140 kmph after a difficult outing in Lucknow, a performance the report described as a reminder of the value of trusting a specialist fast bowler’s primary strength.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir also urged a better balance between bat and ball, warning that bowlers’ careers were at risk when pitches heavily favoured batters; he added that conditions alone could not explain the defeat and that India needed to find ways to defend big totals. The board have recalled veteran seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, with Jasprit Bumrah rested, nearly four years after Bhuvneshwar’s last appearance in the format.
The wider selection numbers were noted as a challenge: India have tried 23 fast bowlers in T20Is since Bhuvneshwar last played in 2022, and only Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah have reached at least 20 appearances among specialist fast bowlers, with injuries and inconsistent establishment cited as factors.
With the series now level at 1-1, India have an immediate opportunity to respond; longer-term, the team faces the task of producing an attack that can manage high-scoring conditions and defend big totals without relying on Bumrah alone.
