India unfairly criticised for pitches, says captain Rohit Sharma

CAPE TOWN – There should be a review of how cricket pitches are rated with India receiving undue criticism, according to Test captain Rohit Sharma, in the wake of his side’s seven-wicket win over hosts South Africa on a seaming surface with variable bounce at Newlands.

India bounced back from an innings defeat in the first Test in Centurion to share the two-match series, chasing down a target of 79 an hour after lunch despite a stunning century by home batsman Aiden Markram.

It was the shortest Test match in history in terms of balls bowled – 642 or 107 overs – to end in an outright result. The previous shortest Test also involved South Africa, who were beaten by Australia in 656 balls in Melbourne in 1932.

With variable bounce and sideways movement through the 4½ sessions, Rohit described the conditions as dangerous but added that he had no problem playing on such surfaces, as long as it was accepted that Indian pitches will also turn from day one.

“I don’t mind being on pitches like this as long as everyone keeps their mouth shut in India and no one is talking about the pitches there,” Rohit said. “Yes it is dangerous, but you come here (South Africa) to challenge yourself and you must face up to it.”

Rohit believes there is inconsistency in the way match referees rate pitches in different countries.

“In India, when it turns on day one, people say ‘Oh, there is a puff of dust’. We need to stay neutral, especially match referees. I would love to see how the pitches are rated.

“I still can’t believe the (Cricket) World Cup final pitch (in Ahmedabad) was rated below standard. A player (Australia’s Travis Head) got a hundred there. They must rate pitches based on what they see, not based on countries.”

Rohit added there should be no difference in the rating of a pitch based on spin or seam on day one.

“We know pitches in India will spin but people don’t like it because it turns from ball one. But if it seams from ball one, that is OK? That is not fair.”

Rohit believes the nature of the wicket made their Cape Town win even more special.

“When we saw how the pitch played in the first session, we knew it would not be a high-scoring game,” he said. “All we wanted to do was stay disciplined in how we bowled and not get ahead of ourselves.

“We also spoke to the batters and said we needed small contributions in the game. Apply yourself, if you get hit on the body it’s fine.”
REUTERS, AFP