"Not moaners": Sunil Gavaskar attacks Australia, England legends for hypocrisy after 15-wicket day in Sydney

Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar fiercely defended Indian pitches after a chaotic second day of the fifth and final Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney on Saturday, January 4.

After an astonishing 15 wickets fell on Day 2 of the ongoing New Year’s Test, the former Indian captain turned the spotlight on the grassy surface at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), criticizing the track for its challenging nature. He also pointed out the glaring double standards in pitch criticism among the former cricketers.

Sunil Gavaskar slams double standards, criticizes SCG pitch as 15 wickets fall

Sunil Gavaskar expressed his frustration at how Indian pitches often face harsh scrutiny, but the tough conditions overseas rarely draw similar outrage among the former cricketers and cricket experts. Highlighting the lush green SCG pitch that stunned even Glenn McGrath, he mentioned how former Indian players haven't yet complained despite its clear difficulty.

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The legendary batter has stressed that if such a pitch had been prepared in India, then every Australian would have come out for war. The well-known commentator also emphasized that the Indian cricket team always faces foreign challenges without making excuses, and if they lose, they accept it gracefully.

After the stumps on Day 2 at the SCG, Sunil Gavaskar said on ABC Grandstand Radio: “If 15 wickets fell [on one day] in India, all hell would have broken loose. We had Glenn McGrath saying he'd never seen so much grass. Did you hear any former India cricketer moan about the pitch? When we go out and play cricket, we will tough it out. And if we are beaten, we are beaten. Overseas it's very difficult to beat home teams.”

Cows could have gone and grazed on it: Sunil Gavaskar

Gavaskar also raised concerns about the SCG surface, saying this is not a proper Test match, as it seemed unlikely the game would stretch to the fourth day between India and Australia. On a hilarious note, the former Indian captain also joked that the Sydney pitch was so grassy it could have easily served as grazing ground for cows.

He further noted, “I did say that when we saw the pitch yesterday, the cows could have gone and grazed on it. This is not the ideal Test match pitch that you want because you want it to go into a fourth and fifth day. Unless there is rain, I don't see us being here on day four.”

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Sunil Gavaskar takes aim at Australian and English pundits over Indian pitch criticism after 15 wickets fall in Sydney

Meanwhile, Sunil Gavaskar hit back at former Australian and English cricketers who very often criticize Indian pitches and said that Indians never complain about foreign conditions.

He pointed out the double standards, stating that if 15 wickets had fallen in a single day in India, there would have been a massive outcry, but Indian cricketers don’t whine about the pitch conditions at the SCG.

Gavaskar signed off by saying, “Former English and Australian cricketers all time talk about the Indian pitches and conditions. We're not moaners; we're not whingers. You'll never find us complaining, but 15 wickets in a day in India, there would be hell.”