Why are flat pitches a risk for India's 2027 World Cup preparation?
Flat pitches in the West Indies series leave India's bowlers under-prepared for the varied conditions expected at the 2027 World Cup.
India coach Gautam Gambhir criticised the flat pitch at Guwahati after India chased 406 in the second ODI against West Indies. He stated that the conditions offered no contest between bat and ball and expressed sympathy for the bowlers who had to operate on such surfaces. Gambhir noted that young bowlers need pressure situations to develop, and that the current trend of high-scoring pitches is not ideal preparation for the 2027 World Cup, where tougher conditions are expected. The series has seen two high-scoring chases, with India overhauling 296 in the first ODI and 406 in the second. Former players Zaheer Khan, Madan Lal and Karsan Ghavri also questioned the lack of balance between bat and ball in recent Indian cricket.
CricHubb Take
Without exposure to testing surfaces now, India's seam attack may struggle to adapt when the World Cup moves to South Africa and Zimbabwe.