Ahmedabad: The third Test between India and England got over in two days but the pitch debate is still raging on. After England were bundled out for 112 and 81 at the newly renamed Narendra Modi stadium, it has led to widespread criticism of the pitch.
The pitch used at the Ahmedabad Test came under scrutiny after the unusual result of the Test match. While many former cricketers have defended the surface, plenty of former England players have slammed the spin-friendly nature of the pitch.
Meanwhile, Indian spinner Ravi Ashwin has opened up about his thought on the entire issue, saying he thinks that the conversation about the surface is getting out of hand. He also said if such a discussion about the pitch has taken place ever before in any other country.
“I think I have said that in the past as well, everyone is entitled to their opinion and I am not here to say that your opinion is right and it is wrong. The fact remains that the talk about the surface is getting out of hand,” Ashwin said.
“Why would you talk about the surface and sell that to us time and time again? Is there any instance where the pitch has been talked about this much when we have played games in other countries. I somehow find it funny that when they speak about the surface, it immediately gets quoted all over in our press and this is the issue here.”
The 34-year-old also pointed at an instance from the New Zealand series when both the Test matches were finished on the third day of the encounter. “There have been instances, we have been to New Zealand, where both the Tests got over in a total of five days. There is a video doing the rounds where Virat Kohli is talking in South Africa and he says I am not here to talk about the pitch. That is how we have been taught to play cricket, that’s why I say let them sell thoughts, buying is our choice,” he added.
“The bowler wins the game, the batsmen need to bat well to score runs. Who defines what a good surface is? Seam on the first day, then bat well in the next couple of days and spin on the last two days, come on, who makes these rules?”
“We need to get over it and if you are asking whether the pitch in the third Test was a good surface, I do not see any players of England coming out and complaining. You should be hoping for a good cricket match, not the surface,” he signed off.
