We Play On Seaming Tracks When We Go Overseas, Cheteshwar Pujara Responds On Chennai Pitch Debate

Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara responded to the debate of overseas teams struggling on the turning tracks at Chennai during the 2nd Test between India and England. India won the 2nd Test by a huge margin of 317 runs and levelled the series 1-1 with two Tests to go. Ravichandran Ashwin’s heroics with the bat and the ball helped India to a large extent and proved to be a great asset for the Indian team.

A lot of cricket experts weren’t happy with the way the pitch behaved as it turned square and was a nightmare for the batsman. The rough patches on the pitch were utilized to their full extent with the oddball turning and providing a lot of confusion in the minds of the batsman. The overseas team has always struggled with the Indian spinners in turning tracks and it was evident in the second Test despite the England batsman in good form.

Cheteshwar Pujara Notes The Difficulties For Touring Teams

Cheteshwar Pujara mentioned that the pitch was difficult to score, but not dangerous. He told about the overseas teams struggling with the Indian pitches is the same case when India struggles with the seaming wickets overseas. He added that the Indian batsman still has to play in the seaming wickets but the important thing about it is India never complains about the pitch abroad.

“Sometimes you know when you are playing on a turning track, you find it difficult but at the same time, it was not a dangerous pitch at all. When the ball spins you know people find it difficult to score runs, especially the overseas teams. When we go overseas and we play on seaming tracks, the game finishes in three or four days. We still have to play on such wickets where there is a lot of grass or seam movement,” Pujara told reporters during a virtual press conference, as quoted by news agency ANI.

Cheteshwar Pujara Defends the Spinning Tracks

Pujara told that the amount of spin on the pitch was very difficult to judge in the Chennai track and added that there are more difficulties in the fourth innings. He mentioned the Australian pitch having cracks on it which could be dangerous on day four and day five. He concluded that they will find it easier once the overseas teams play a lot in these pitches.

“In turning tracks, one cannot define how much the ball can spin. It is a very thin line in that way. I do not think it was a bad pitch, it always becomes difficult in the second innings, this is how it is.

“When we play in Australia, there are cracks on day four and five, it is a little dangerous, the oddball hits the crack and it might take off. As a team I do not think we had any issues, once opposition teams start playing more on these pitches, they will be fine,” he added

Pujara showed a lot of character in tough situations in Australia and was picked in the auction for his base price by CSK.