IND vs SA: Sunil Gavaskar Calls Out SENA Media Outlets For Criticizing Turning Pitches In India

Former Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar joined forces and called out the media outlets of SENA countries who more often than not criticize the Indian cricketing board and curators for producing spin-friendly pitches when India hosts foreign nations at home soil.

His comments have come in the backdrop of the wickets-galore that took place on Day 1 of the 2nd test between South Africa and India at the Newlands Cricket Ground. The pitch has offered genuine help to the bowlers from both teams and batting on that surface has proved to be a mountain to climb.

With an uneven covering of grass, the Newlands track has not let South African as well as Indian batters settle in. The extent was such that on Day 1 itself, 23 wickets fell across 3 innings. It started with India breaking down the Proteas batting attack.

After Dean Elgar asked India to bowl, Mohammed Siraj bamboozled everyone in the stadium and South Africa’s dressing room by clinching career-best figures of 6/15 in just 9 overs with Mukesh Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah picking up 2 wickets each. South Africa as a result were all out for 55.

In response, India got off to a crumbling start with Jaiswal departing for a duck. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill played some exquisite shots while trying to put together a partnership which was ended by Nandre Burger as he removed Rohit for 39 before claiming Gill’s wicket for 36.

Then Virat Kohli as usual struck to the crease for as long as he could but was out for 46 while centurion from the 1st test, KL Rahul departed after scoring 8. Shockingly, 6 Indian players got out for a duck, which is the highest number of ducks in a single innings itself with India getting all out for 153.

When South Africa came out to bat in the 3rd innings in the final session, Jasprit Bumrah and Mukesh Kumar quickly removed 3 batters and went on to put India in quite a commanding position. But after Day 1 ended, former cricketers and experts criticized the pitch in Newlands and Sunil Gavaskar also provided his point of view.

Sunil Gavaskar Calls SENA Media Delusional

While assessing the proceedings that took place on Day 1, Sunil Gavaskar lashed out at the media of SENA countries for claiming that those who can’t play in fast and bouncy pitches are not batters. Gavaskar stated that a real batter is someone who can play spin as well as they play against pacers.

Sunil Gavaskar emphasized on footwork being the main strength of playing spin and asked the SENA media to change their tendency to target India’s spinning tracks as poor and biased.

“This is what test cricket is all about. You are going to be tested. And I honestly believe I’ve always believed that if you cannot play on pitches where the ball turns into the batter, you know there is a tendency amongst the SENA country’s media, particularly if you think that you know, if you can’t play on fast, bouncy pitches, you’re not a batter,” Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports. 

“I’m sorry. You are not a batter if you can’t play the turning pitch because over here for the bouncy pitch, there are two movements here. There for four spinners, where the ball is turning, you’ve got to go down the pitch. You’ve got to use the crease. All the shots can be exhibited.” – Gavaskar added. 

Sunil Gavaskar Asks Indian Media To Write About Foreign Batters’ Inability Against Spin

The 74-year-old former World Cup winner also asked the Indian media to go all out and write against foreign batters’ inability to play spin in Indian conditions as they do not want to hurt or upset anybody at will. Sunil Gavaskar also expressed his sadness on Indian media not being able to do so.

“So that’s you know what? I think, sadly, you know, our media should be actually writing about this. You know, our media should be talking about the fact that you know, but our media is so dependent sometimes not all the time on getting interviews with players, so they do not want to upset anybody. So they will not question the batting ability of some of the overseas guys because of that. But that’s the way.” – Gavaskar concluded.