'Don't Mind Playing on Pitches like Cape Town as Long as Everyone Keeps Their Mouth Shut in India': Rohit Sharma

Team India captain Rohit Sharma hit out at the ICC and the match referees pointing out their double standards while grading the pitches. The second Test match between India and South Africa was completed within two days – becoming the shortest-ever Test match completed – 642 balls. It was a bouncy track where the batters found it tough to get going as no team was able to cross the 200-run mark.

India chased down the 79-run target in 12 overs at the loss of three wickets.

Rohit talked about the Cape Town pitch and said he doesn’t mind playing in such conditions but then others have to stop criticising the turning tracks in India.

“I mean, we saw what happened in this match, how the pitch played and stuff like that,” Rohit said. “I honestly don’t mind playing on pitches like this. As long as everyone keeps their mouth shut in India and doesn’t talk too much about Indian pitches, honestly.

“Because you come here [in Test cricket] to challenge yourself. Yes, it is dangerous. It is challenging. So, and when people come to India, it is again pretty challenging as well. Look, when you are here to play Test cricket, we talk about Test cricket, the ultimate prize, Test cricket being the pinnacle and stuff like that. I think it’s important that we also stand by it,” Rohit said in the post-match press conference.

Rohit lambasted the critics who have problems with the Indian pitches offering assistance to the spinners from day 1.

“When you are put up against, a challenge like that, you come and face it. That’s what happens in India, but, in India on day one, if the pitch starts turning, people start talking about ‘Puff of dust! Puff of dust!’ There’s so much crack here on the pitch. People are not looking at that,” he added.

The Indian skipper advised the match referees to not grade the pitches on the basis of the host nation.

I think it’s important that we stay neutral everywhere we go,” Rohit said. “Especially the match referees. You know, some of these match referees need to keep their eye on how they rate pitches. It’s quite important.”

ICC match referee Andy Pycroft’s “average” rating for pitch used for the ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad also did not go down well with Rohit and Co.

“I still can’t believe that the World Cup final pitch was rated below average. A batsman got a hundred there in the final. How can that be a poor pitch? So these are the things the ICC, the match referees, they need to look into and start rating pitches based on what they see, not based on the countries. I think that’s quite important,” he added.

The swashbuckling opener further said that he want to know how the pitches are rated by the match refrees.

“So I hope they keep their ears open, they keep their eyes open and look into those aspects of the game. Honestly, I’m all for pitches like this. We want to challenge playing on pitches like this. We pride ourselves playing on pitches like this., but all I wanna say is be neutral.”

“Honestly, I would like to see how the pitches are rated,” Rohit said. “I want to see that. Whatever… that chart, I would love to see it, how they rate the pitches, because Mumbai, Bangalore, Cape Town, Centurion, all different venues, overhead conditions are different. The pitches deteriorate quite fast when the sun is beating down that hard on the pitch,” he added.