Chennai: India’s limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma on Sunday (February 21) defended the much-criticised Chepauk pitch used for the second Test against England, saying creating favourable tracks for home advantage is not a new thing and the team has every right to make use of the home advantage.
Rohit said no one discusses the nature of the pitches when India travel overseas and said others too should not make a controversy out of anything.
The Chepauk pitch had come under scrutiny after former England skipper Michael Vaughan and former Australian cricketer Mark Waugh slammed the spin-friendly nature of the pitch that was prepared where England suffered a 317-run defeat as India went on to level the series.
“Same for both teams. So I don’t know why there’s so much talk about the pitch. People say that the pitch shouldn’t be a certain type of way, but they have been like this in India for years. Every team plays to their strengths at home, and similarly, we do what our team prefers in India,” Rohit Sharma said during the virtual press conference on Sunday.
“This is what home or advantage means. Otherwise, remove home or away advantage. Tell ICC that there should be a rule which should be followed and the same kind of pitches should be made in India and away from India also.
“When we go abroad, the hosts also make it difficult. I don’t think there should be so much discussion about the pitches. Talk about the game, talk about the players. Pitches shouldn’t be discussed this much as both the teams play on the same pitch and whoever does better wins the match,” Rohit added.
“I don’t think much about pitches. If you think too much about it, the pitch won’t change. So the focus should be on how to play on the given pitch, what technique is needed. We need to prepare our mind according to the pitch,” he said.
However, the veteran supported Rohit over ‘making full use of the home advantage.’ Vaughan quoted BCCI’s video saying “Totally agree …” on the Indian opener’s viewpoint on the home advantage.
Totally agree … https://t.co/SR9uEZMFrN
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 21, 2021
After an extended break, India and England will face in the 3rd Test, in Ahmedabad from February 24.
