(Image Source: PTI)
[Saba Sports News] India captain Rohit Sharma has no issue with playing on pitches similar to the one at Cape Town, where the fastest-ever Test result was achieved, but he has a condition. He is urging critics of Indian pitches to refrain from speaking negatively about them after witnessing the outcome at Newlands.
“We all witnessed the events in this Test match and how the pitch performed. Personally, I have no problem with playing on such pitches as long as everyone refrains from making negative comments about Indian pitches when we play at home,” Rohit remarked after India’s seven-wicket victory at Newlands, where they leveled the series in just 107 overs and slightly over four sessions.
“When we come here, it’s about challenging ourselves. It can be perilous but it’s also a test of our skills. When teams visit India, it’s a challenge as well. When you’re playing Test cricket, we consider it the ultimate form of the game, the pinnacle. We stand by that. When you face a challenge like this, you must embrace it. This is what happens in India. However, when the pitch begins to turn on the first day in India, people start talking about ‘puffs of dust’ and ‘cracks on the pitch.’ It’s crucial for us to remain impartial wherever we play.”
Rohit pointed out how the narrative changes when the pitch starts turning from the first day in India and called on the ICC to maintain fairness when rating pitches.
“To be honest, I would like to see how pitches are rated. Mumbai, Bangalore, Cape Town, Centurion—all of these are quite distinct. The weather conditions are different, and pitches deteriorate quickly under the harsh sun. The conditions in India are such that we know the pitch will spin. However, people don’t like it because the pitch starts spinning from the first day,” Rohit emphasized.
“If the ball seams from the first delivery, everyone is fine with it. But that’s not fair. If the ball starts spinning from the first delivery, it should be acceptable. Otherwise, let’s stay neutral and rate these pitches as poor as well. If you only want the ball to seam and not turn, in my opinion, that’s absolutely incorrect. This is my judgment, my perspective, and I will stand by it. I’ve watched enough cricket and witnessed how match referees and the ICC evaluate these pitches. I don’t have an issue with how you rate them, but please be impartial.”
Rohit expressed his astonishment at the World Cup final pitch in Ahmedabad being rated as ‘below average’ and urged match referees to be more objective in their assessments.
“Some of these match referees need to be more attentive to how they assess pitches. I still can’t believe the World Cup final pitch was rated as ‘below average’ when a batsman scored a century on it. How can that be considered a poor pitch? The ICC and match referees should rate pitches based on what they observe, not based on the countries involved. That’s crucial. I hope they remain open-minded, keep their eyes and ears open, and consider these aspects of the game.
“I am fully supportive of pitches like the one in Cape Town; we want to test ourselves on such surfaces, and we take pride in doing so. But my message is simple—be fair and impartial.”