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Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has taken a swipe at former Australian and English players for their persistent 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 frustration over the double standard when it comes to pitching evaluations.
“If 15 wickets fell [in one day] All hell would have broken loose in India,” Gavaskar said. “We had Glenn McGrath saying he’d never seen so much grass. Did you hear any former Indian cricketers complain about the pitch?
Gavaskar defends the toughness of Indian players
Gavaskar highlighted that Indian players have always adapted to foreign conditions without complaints, unlike their Australian and English counterparts.
“When we go out to play cricket, we toughen it up. And if they beat us, they beat us. Abroad it is very difficult to beat local teams,” he added.
The former Indian captain did not hesitate to criticize those who constantly attack Indian camps.
“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 a day in India would be hell,” Gavaskar emphasised.
Criticism of the SCG speech
The SCG pitch has come under scrutiny for its excessive grass coverage and unpredictable bounce. Gavaskar shared his opinion about the playing surface, hinting that it was not up to the mark.
“I said that when we saw the field yesterday, the cows could have gone to graze in it. This is not the ideal test launch that you want because you want it to get to the fourth and fifth day. Unless it rains, I won’t see us here on the fourth day,” he observed.
Pant’s scorching knock keeps India in control
As the debate over the pitch continued, India’s wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant put up an electrifying 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 lead of 145 runs with four wickets in hand.
On Day 2, India stood at 141/6, with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar holding the strong position. Earlier in the day, the visitors had bowled out Australia for 181, securing a slim lead in the first innings.
Prasidh Krishna and bowling unit shine
India’s 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 Australia’s batting line-up in check.
The visitors made the most of the conditions and Bumrah dismissed Marnus Labuschagne early. Prasidh Krishna followed up with key breakthroughs, further tilting the game in India’s favour.
Gavaskar concluded his rant by reiterating 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 nations.
“We do not complain about foreign fields. We accept the challenge and play the best we can. We should be given the same respect when teams come to India,” he said.
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