Image Source: PTI
[Saba Sports News] Recently, Sourav Ganguly, the ex-Indian cricket team captain known for his direct approach, questioned the need for spin-heavy pitches in India. He argued for the importance of playing on quality wickets, highlighting the impressive performances of fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Mukesh Kumar. Ganguly’s comments add to the debate on pitch preparation strategies for home Test matches, suggesting a shift towards quality wickets rather than spin-dominant ones.
He expressed his thoughts on social media, stating, “When I see Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, Mukesh bowl, I wonder why we need to prepare turning tracks in India…my conviction of playing on good wickets keeps getting stronger every game…They will get 20 wickets on any surface…batting quality dropping because of pitches in the last 6 to 7 years at home…good wickets are a must…India will still win over 5 days.”
The challenges extend to Indian batsmen like KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Shubman Gill, who have struggled to adapt, including all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. Despite previously advocating for spin-friendly pitches as BCCI President, Ganguly now calls for quality wickets, believing India’s fast bowlers can secure victories on any surface.
The discussion gains urgency amid the current Test series, where English spinners took seven Indian wickets in the first innings of the second Test, reviving concerns from the 2012 series loss to England on similar pitches. The cricket community awaits to see how India will address these concerns moving forward.