In the aftermath of the historic Test match in Cape Town, which witnessed the shortest-ever duration in the history of India-South Africa encounters, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma didn’t mince words as he lashed out at the International Cricket Council (ICC) for its perceived double standards. Rohit, in a fiery press conference, addressed the pitch ratings controversy and questioned the ICC’s approach towards evaluating different pitches around the world.
Expressing frustration, Rohit emphasized that the Indian team is ready to play on diverse surfaces globally, but expects fairness and consistency in the assessment of Indian pitches. He particularly criticized the labeling of Indian pitches as ‘rank-turners’ and ‘dust bowls.’
Interestingly, the Indian captain highlighted the incongruity in the ICC’s past assessments. He referenced the ‘below-average’ rating given to the Indore pitch during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the ‘average’ rating for the Ahmedabad pitch where the World Cup final was played last year.
Several former cricketers echoed Rohit’s sentiments, shedding light on what they perceived as ICC’s hypocrisy. Virender Sehwag, in his characteristic style, drew attention to the inconsistency in pitch evaluations. Aakash Chopra, a former India batter, delved into the issue, questioning the standards used to judge pitches and supporting Rohit’s stance.
Mayank Agarwal, Rohit’s former opening partner, took a subtle dig at the ICC, envisioning a scenario where 20 wickets fall on Day 1 in India, subtly pointing out the stark contrast in reactions.
The debate on pitch quality has intensified, prompting cricketers and analysts to call for a more objective and consistent approach in pitch assessments.
