Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar fiercely defended the Indian pitches after a chaotic second day of the fifth and final Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney on Saturday, January 4.
After scoring a stunning 15 on Day 2 of the ongoing New Year Test, the former India captain turned his attention to the grass surface at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), criticizing the track for its difficult nature. He also pointed out the double standards in pitch criticism among former cricketers.
Sunil Gavaskar criticizes double standards, criticizes SCG pitch as 15 wickets fall
Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his frustration that Indian pitches often face harsh scrutiny, but tough conditions abroad rarely spark similar outrage among former cricketers and cricket experts. Highlighting the green SCG pitch that even surprised Glenn McGrath, the former Indian noted that the players are still not complaining despite the obvious hardship.
The legendary mortician pointed out that if such a pitch was made in India, then every Australian would be fighting. The well-known commentator also emphasized that the Indian cricket team always faces foreign challenges without making excuses, and if they lose, they accept it gracefully.
After stumps on Day 2 at the SCG, Sunil Gavaskar said on ABC Tribune Radio: “If 15 wickets fell (in one day) in India, all hell would break loose. We Glenn McGrath said he had never seen so much grass. Have you heard ex-Indian cricketers groan on the field? When we go out and play cricket, we will make it difficult. If we get beat, we get beat. It is very difficult to beat home teams abroad.”
Cows could go and graze: Sunil Gavaskar
Gavaskar also raised concerns about the SCG surface, saying it was not a proper Test match as it looked unlikely that the game between India and Australia would go on to the fourth day. On a funny note, the former India captain joked that the Sydney pitch was so grassy that it could easily serve as a grazing ground for cows.
He further noted, “I said that when we saw the field yesterday, the cows could have gone and grazed there. It’s not the ideal Test match you want because you want it to go into the fourth and fifth day. If it doesn’t rain, I don’t see that we are here on the fourth day.”
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Sunil Gavaskar targets Australian and English pundits for criticism of Indian pitching after 15 wickets in Sydney
Meanwhile, Sunil Gavaskar hit back at former Australian and English cricketers who have criticized Indian pitches too often and said that Indians never complain about external conditions.
Pointing to double standards, he said there would have been mass protests if 15 wickets fell in one day in India, but Indian cricketers were not whining about the pitch conditions at the SCG.
Gavaskar said, “Former English and Australian cricketers talk about Indian pitches and conditions all the time. We’re not moaners; we’re not whisperers. You’ll never find us complaining, but 15 wickets a day in India would be hell.”
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