After the result of the two-day Test match between India and South Africa, Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian cricket team, has come forward with a strong message directed at critics of Indian pitches.
The second Test, which concluded in less than five sessions, saw a total of 23 wickets fall, making it the shortest Test match in history with just 107 overs bowled.
While not explicitly criticising the pitch, Rohit Sharma addressed those who are in the habit of complaining about the challenging conditions, particularly spin-friendly tracks.
“We all saw what happened in this Test match and how the pitch played. I honestly don’t mind playing on pitches like these. As long as everyone keeps their mouth shut and doesn’t talk too much about Indian pitches,” Sharma remarked, expressing his straightforward opinion on the matter.
Sharma, known for his assertive leadership style, highlighted the peril and challenges associated with such pitches, emphasizing the essence of Test cricket being the ultimate form of the game.
“When you are here to play Test cricket, we talk about Test cricket being the pinnacle. I think it’s important that we also stand by it,” he asserted.
The Indian skipper also took a dig at those who label Indian pitches as dust bowls, stating, “In India, on day one, if the pitch starts turning, people start talking about ‘Puff of dust! Puff of dust!’ There’s so much crack here on the pitch. People are not looking at that.”
Calling for neutrality in pitch assessments, Rohit Sharma urged match referees to evaluate pitches based on what they witnessed during the matches rather than being influenced by the country. He expressed disbelief over the World Cup final pitch being rated below average, questioning the validity of such evaluations.
“So I hope they keep their ears open, they keep their eyes open and look into those aspects of the game. Honestly, I’m all for pitches like this. We want to challenge playing on pitches like this. We pride ourselves on playing on pitches like this. But all I wanna say is be neutral,” Rohit Sharma concluded.
As the cricketing community engages in discussions surrounding pitch quality and the essence of Test cricket, Rohit Sharma’s bold statements are sure to fuel the ongoing debate.
