Why should we discuss what they are saying: Sunil Gavaskar on foreign pitch critics

Tags: England tour of India 2021, India, England, Sunil Manohar Gavaskar

Published on: Mar 05, 2021

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has opined that over-importance must not be given to foreign players, who have been criticising the surfaces being used for the ongoing India-England series. According to Gavaskar, these ex-players are only getting publicity by raking up pitch controversies.

Speaking to host broadcaster Star Sports, the Little Master opined, "The discussion should have been around bowling and batting. The batsmen got bowled or were given LBW, how can we call it a bad pitch. Why do we give this much importance to foreign players? Why should we discuss what they are saying."

Specifying that comments by ex-Indian players are not sought when India fare poorly abroad, Gavaskar added, "When India gets all out on 36 runs, then are the comments of Kapil Dev, (Sachin) Tendulkar, (Sourav) Ganguly or (Virender) Sehwag given importance by that country's media or TV channel. Not at all. Then why are we giving importance to them. And when we will not give them importance, they will learn the lesson. Till the time they know that they will get importance and publicity, they will keep doing it. England team did not complain. Joe Root did not complain.”

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has been among the most vocal critics of the pitches on offer in the ongoing India-England Test series. A couple of days before the fourth Test, he posed with the bat in the midst of dugup soil to troll India over the pitch preparations for the final Test.

Following Day 1 of the fourth Test though, Vaughan finally admitted that India were the better team under the conditions. This was after England crumbled for 205 on a surface that was reasonably good to bat on.

A few fays back, former England spinner Monty Panesar had also criticised the pitch for the third Test. Speaking to ANI, Panesar lashed out by saying, "It was like playing club cricket on a Saturday in England. When we play club cricket, we will bowl a team out for under 100, and then it's difficult to chase because it's a turning pitch.

“I think being the biggest stadium in the world, Narendra Modi Stadium deserves longer Test matches because people want to see how good the wicket is, you look at the stadium, beautiful views, and what an amazing stadium India has produced. It does not deserve a two-day Test match that's under 900 balls, you might just play on a park, if you are going to play this type of cricket," he added.

India were 24 for 1 at stumps on Day 1 of the final Test. Rohit Sharma was unbeaten on 8 and Cheteshwar Pujara on 15. The hosts are trailing the visitors by 181 runs.

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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