'400 runs are not good' - Aakash Chopra unimpressed with quality of Indian tracks

Former Test opener Aakash Chopra has said that the Indian pitches are not up to the mark as of now. The former player reckoned that the ODI World Cup scheduled for October-November will not be interesting if the games are played on such placid wickets.

Chopra’s remarks came after India's convincing 90-run victory in the third and final One Day International against New Zealand, at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on January 24. The game witnessed a stupendous batting performance in the first innings where skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill laid a solid foundation with a 212-run opening stand, scoring their respective centuries. The hosts eventually finished with 385/9.

"If ODI cricket is played on such pitches, Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma are going to hit a lot. Usually both will hit in the same match or else at least one will definitely hit. The day both of them get out early, Kohli will destroy you. These pitches are not great for cricket,” said while speaking on his YouTube channel.

"If you want only hitting, you will get more such pitches. I personally feel it is not a good thing because when the World Cup happens here, 400 runs will be scored easily. 400 runs is not a great,” he added.

At the same time, the cricketer-turned-cricket pundit also said that while India are the runaway favourites to win the World Cup, the viewers might lose interest in if the pitches favor the batters to this extent. Notably, India posted totals close to 400 on two occasions earlier this month during the ODI series against Sri Lanka as well. The Men in Blue scored 373/7 in Guwahati and 390/5 in Thiruvananthapuram.

"Once in a while it is okay but if you see the last six matches, three each against Sri Lanka and New Zealand - Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad and then here - you are reaching close to 400. The ODI World Cup will happen for sure, India will start as runaway favorites but the matches might not be that interesting."

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