Image Credit- Getty
For what he perceives to be unfair pitch rating
practices, Rohit Sharma has criticised the Indian Cricket Board and the match
referees. Rohit was critical about the slander against pitches in India, which
don’t last, after winning the shortest Test match in the history of the game
because of a lottery pitch that was too strongly stacked in favour of seam
bowlers.
“I mean, we saw what happened in this match, how
the pitch played and stuff like that,” Rohit said. “I honestly don’t
mind playing on pitches like this. As long as everyone keeps their mouth shut
in India and don’t talk too much about Indian pitches, honestly.
“Because you come here [in Test cricket] to
challenge yourself. Yes, it is dangerous. It is challenging. So, and when
people come to India, it is again pretty challenging as well. Look, when you
are here to play Test cricket, we talk about Test cricket, the ultimate prize,
Test cricket being the pinnacle and stuff like that. I think it’s important
that we also stand by it.
“When you are put up against, a challenge like
that, you come and face it. That’s what happens in India, but, in India on day
one, if the pitch starts turning, people start talking about ‘Puff of dust!
Puff of dust!’ There’s so much crack here on the pitch. People are not looking
at that.”
Rohit singled out the match referees and some of the
ratings pitches received in last year’s World Cup, held in India. “I think
it’s important that we stay neutral everywhere we go,” Rohit said.
“Especially the match referees. You know, some of these match referees
need to keep their eye on how they rate pitches. It’s quite important.
“So I hope they keep their ears open, they keep
their eyes open and look into those aspects of the game. Honestly, I’m all for
pitches like this. We want to challenge playing on pitches like this. We pride
ourselves playing on pitches like this. Uh, but all I want to say is be
neutral.”