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The Rohit Sharma-led Men in Blue registered a convincing seven-wicket win over South Africa in the second and final Test of the two-match series. While the visitors lost the opening Test by a massive margin of an inning and 32 runs, they won the second to draw the series 1-1.
However, both Tests ended in a pan of just five days with the first ending in three days while the second in just two days. It also turned out to be the shortest Test in terms of balls bowled, questioning the quality of pitches. Seeing the early end to the two Test matches, Rohit Sharma hit back at ICC match referees, indirectly criticising the Newlands pitch.
“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 pitches there,” Rohit Sharma said after the match. “Yes, it is dangerous, but you come here (South Africa) to challenge yourself and you must face up to it,” he further added.
The India skipper also called out the match referees and pointed out their inconsistency in the way pitches are rated around. “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 World Cup final pitch was rated below standard. A player got a hundred there. They must rate pitches based on what they see, not based on countries,” Rohit said at the post-match press conference.
It is to be noted that Andy Pycroft, who was the ICC match referee for the ODI World Cup final in India, rated the Ahmedabad pitch “average”. However, the former England opener Chris Board was the ICC match referee for the two-match Test series in South Africa.
“We pride ourselves playing on pitches like these, all I want to say is be neutral,” Rohit concluded.
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