Cape Town: In a candid press conference following the second match, Rohit Sharma expressed his reservations about the ICC’s pitch rating system.
The Indian captain launched a pointed critique, emphasizing that the Indian pitch conditions should not automatically favor spin from day one.
Sharma, known for his assertive stance, asserted, “I don’t mind playing on pitches like this, as long as everyone keeps their opinions in check and refrains from complaining about Indian pitches. The essence is to come here and face challenges. When teams visit India, it’s equally demanding.”
He further scrutinized the ODI World Cup 2023 Final pitch, rated as “Below Average,” highlighting the inconsistency. “A guy scored a hundred. I urge match referees to focus on what’s on the pitch, not just the country where the match is played.” Sharma added that the assessment process needs refinement, urging match referees to provide a more comprehensive view.
Addressing the prevalent bias, Sharma remarked, “In India, if the ball spins from Day 1, it’s an issue. When the ball seems from Day 1 elsewhere, it’s acceptable. That’s not okay.”
The captain urged a fair evaluation process, shedding light on the inherent challenges of playing in different conditions.
Shortest Test Match (Balls Bowled)
{Resulted Matches}
643 – IND v SA, 2024*
656 – AUS v ENG, 1932
672 – ENG v WI, 1935
India’s Test wins in South Africa:
123 runs – Johannesburg, 2006
87 runs – Durban, 2010
63 runs – Johannesburg, 2018
113 runs – Centurion, 2021
7 wickets – Cape Town, 2024
