The debate over the Ahmedabad pitch has simmered after the Test match ended in less than two days. The game is now the seventh shortest completed Test match and the shortest since 1935.
A lot has been talked about the Indian pitches ever since the visitors lost the game.
Former cricketers, Yuvraj Singh have expressed their views on the pitch after 17 wickets fell on Day 2 of the Test.
“Finished in 2 days Not sure if that’s good for test cricket !If @anilkumble1074 and @harbhajan_singh bowled on these kind of wickets they would be sitting on a thousand and 800? However congratulations to India @akshar2026 what a spell! congratulations @ashwinravi99 @ImIshant,” Yuvraj tweeted.
finished in 2 days Not sure if that’s good for test cricket !If @anilkumble1074 and @harbhajan_singh bowled on these kind of wickets they would be sitting on a thousand and 800 ?🤔However congratulations to 🇮🇳 @akshar2026 what a spell! congratulations @ashwinravi99 @ImIshant 💯
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) February 25, 2021
Former England captain Michael Vaughan called the pitch “awful”.
Entertaining .. YES .. but this is a awful pitch for Test cricket .. !!!! Complete lottery on day 2 !! #INDvENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 25, 2021
Whereas, Opener Rohit Sharma slammed the critics and said that most batsmen from both teams got out on straight balls and it was not a case of pitch misbehaving a lot.
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“To be honest, I did not do anything different, when you are playing on a pitch like that, you need to have intent and you need to look to score runs. You just cannot keep blocking. The oddball might turn, the oddball might just skid on the stumps if you play for the turn. It is important to keep that intent and try to use your feet and try to do as many things as possible to try and stay ahead of the bowlers. You just need to be slightly ahead of the bowlers at times and it is about finding ways to score runs,” said Rohit during a virtual press conference.
“I don’t think the quality of batting was up to standards. We were 100 for 3 and then got bowled out for less than 150. It was just the odd ball turning and it was a good wicket to bat in the first innings. It was bizzare that 21 of the 30 wickets fell to straight balls, Test cricket is about trusting your defence. Lack of application ensured it was a quick finish,” he explained at the end of the game.