Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar Former Australian and English players have come under fire for their constant complaints about Indian pitches. His comments came after a dramatic second day of the fifth Test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), where 15 wickets fell, raising questions about the playing surface.
Speaking on ABC Grandstand Radio, Gavaskar expressed his frustration at the double standards when it comes to evaluating presentations.
“If India had fallen 15 wickets (in one day), all hell would have broken loose,” Gavaskar said. “Glenn McGrath said he had never seen so much grass before. Have you heard any former Indian cricketer complain about the pitch?”
Gavaskar defends the toughness of Indian players
Gavaskar emphasized this Indian Players have always adapted to external conditions without complaints, unlike their own Australian and their English counterparts.
“When we go out and play cricket, we are tough on it. If we bat, we get beaten. Abroad, it is very difficult to beat local teams,” he added.
The former Indian captain did not hesitate to criticize those who constantly target Indian stadiums.
“Former English and Australian cricketers always talk about Indian pitches and conditions. We are not complainers, we are not complainers. You will never find us complaining. But 15 wickets in one day in India, it will be hell,” Gavaskar asserted.
Swipe the SCG pitch
The pitch at the SCG has come under scrutiny for its excessive grass cover and unpredictable bounce. Gavaskar shared his thoughts on the playing surface, hinting that it is not up to the mark.
“I said that when we saw the pitch yesterday, the cows could have gone and grazed on it. This is not the ideal Test match you want because you want to go on the fourth and fifth day. Unless there is rain, I don't see us being here on the fourth day.”
Pant's powerful knock keeps India ahead
While the debate was raging on the field, the Indian wicket-keeper-batsman was the batsman Rishabh Pant He gave an exciting performance. Pant smashed the second-fastest Test half-century by an Indian, reaching the milestone in just 29 balls. His aggressive approach helped India gain a crucial 145-run lead with four wickets in hand.
At stumps on day two, India stood at 141/6, with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar holding out. Earlier in the day, the visitors had bowled out Australia for 181 runs, taking a slender first-innings lead.
Prasidh Krishna and the bowling unit are shining
The Indian bowling unit, led by stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah, continued to impress. Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy played vital roles in keeping the Australian batting line-up in check.
The visitors took full advantage of the circumstances, with Bumrah dismissing Marnus Labuschagne early. Prasidh Krishna followed this up with key runs, tipping the match in India's favour.
Gavaskar concluded his rant by stressing the need for fairness in pitch evaluations. He noted that Indian players have never complained about the challenges they face abroad, and called for similar respect from other countries.
“We are not complaining about foreign stadiums. We accept the challenge and play to the best of our abilities. We should have the same respect when teams come to India,” he said.
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