'There Shouldn't Be Too Much Discussion On Pitch': Sunil Gavaskar Hits Back After BCCI Is Accused Of Switching Pitch

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his surprise over pitch becoming a major talking about before the ongoing semifinal between India and New Zealand in the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

Hours before the semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium, a report from the Daily Mail suggested that the BCCI changed the pitch in order to suit the Indian team. The report stated that while the ICC and the BCCI had decided to conduct the match on a fresh pitch, the Indian board eventually decided to use a used pitch for the game.

The news outlet suggested that the BCCI took the step in order to favor their spinners. The controversy has drawn a range of reactions from the cricketing fraternity. Several former cricketers including the likes of Michael Vaughan and Mitchell McClenaghan did not take long to share their views on the same.

Sunil Gavaskar on pitch controversy:

Sunil Gavaskar has also shared his views on the controversy. Expressing surprise over the hullabaloo around the pitch, the former India opener mentioned that the Wankhede pitch is anticipated to be on the drier side, regardless of which one is used.

“The pitch is there for all the teams, so I don’t think there should be too much discussion on what this pitch will do or not do. I do believe that this Indian team is perfectly capable of handling any kind of surface. Have seen that in the tournament so far,” Sunil Gavaskar told India Today.

“And if it’s a drier pitch, which is likely to be the case simply because the rains have gone. So there is no hint of any moisture.

“Yes, there might just be a little bit of spin, no question about it. But the Mumbai pitch is generally very good for batting, so I don’t think there should be too much of an issue. With the kind of bowling that we have, bowlers who have bowled superbly, whether they are bowling first or second, I don’t think the pitch would be too much of an issue at all,” he added.

Talking about the ongoing semifinal, India have made a solid start with the bat after Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first. The skipper and Shubman Gill added 71 runs in just 50 balls before the former departed for 47 off 29 balls. At the time of writing this report, India were on 118 for 1 after 15 overs.