'Quite a challenge to pick 20 wickets' - India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey's verdict on the pitch in Trinidad for 2nd WI vs IND Test

The Indian bowling coach Paras Mhambrey talked at length about the bowling conditions at the Port of Spain’s Queen’s Park Oval, the venue for the second Test of India’s tour of the West Indies. While he praised his bowling contingent for making breakthroughs despite no help from the wicket, he also admitted that India will have to race against time to pick up all 20 wickets and win this game.

"The pitch is extremely slow. When we had come in the morning, even Rohit had spoken about it - the ball wasn't seaming or spinning a lot. It was extremely slow. Towards the end, the ball was turning slightly, but it was very easy for batting,” Mhambrey said defending his bowlers. "To top it, they were batting extremely defensively. Had they played some shots, maybe there would have been some opportunities to pick wickets. But they weren't even trying for that. But to sum it up, our bowlers put in the effort. Whatever was expected from the team and the captain, they fulfilled that," he added.

Paras Mhambrey praised debutant Mukesh Kumar

"The wicket should be sporting, where all departments have an opportunity - whether it's batting or bowling. If you go to either extreme... Dominica was turning a bit and we could use that wicket better given the bowlers we had. On this wicket, it will be quite a challenge to pick 20 wickets. The first challenge would be to bowl them out in the first innings and then see at what stage the game is at. Then we'll reassess what to do in the second innings. These wickets are challenging and will be a lot of hard work for the bowlers. Wickets shouldn't be so flat," he said stating his verdict.

In the end, he heaped praise on debutant Mukesh Kumar. "Given the conditions, he has bowled very well," Mhambrey said. "The way he has gone about, putting everything that he has, is very heartening to see. That's what was from him, by the captain the captain, and the team management. That's what we wanted and that's what he has done. The progress he has shown from the first ball and the way he bowled with the second new ball was impressive."