A country where a Test match finishes in two days has no right to moan about Indian pitches: Sunil Gavaskar

Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar slammed the Australian team for playing mind games before the all-important four-match Test series against India which is set to begin on February 9. Australia have been complaining of the Indian pitches being spin-friendly and not providing much benefit to the fast bowlers.

In January 2023, former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy also criticised India for producing 'unfair' wickets. The former cricketer went on to opine that if the condition of the pitches remained the same this time around then the Aussies won’t win. Australia also called Mahesh Pithiya, the spinner from Baroda, for their training session, as his bowling action has an uncanny resemblance to the Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

"The Aussies have started the mind games by talking about the pitches that were on offer when they toured here last. A country where a Test match finishes in two days has no right to moan about Indian pitches. The Brisbane game against South Africa finished in two days. It's not just the matter of the game finishing in two days, but the kind of pitch that was prepared.

With the ball flying all over the place it was dangerous to life and limb. On a turner the only issue is the reputation of batters that is in danger and not their life and limb," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day.

Why crib when the pitches in the sub-continent turn from Day one: Gavaskar

A total of 34 wickets fell in just two days of the Gabba Test which was played between Australia and South Africa on December 2022. With the Proteas scoring 152 and 99 in their both innings and Australia replying with 218 and 35/4, ICC gave a ‘below average’ rating to the pitch in Brisbane.

"What the two-day finish in Brisbane showed was that even the best batters of both teams had their hearts in their mouths. Of course, some sections of the Oz media made excuses saying since it’s a batters game, a pitch like that gives the bowlers some chance. Oh yeah, then why crib when the pitches in the sub-continent turn from Day one.

Playing spin is the ultimate challenge for a 'batter as it tests his footwork and the use of the crease to nullify the turn. There are mind games with the bowler too, that's why those who score a century or more in the sub-continent will be recognised as great batters," Gavaskar added.

The first match of the Border-Gavaskar trophy will be hosted by the VCA Stadium in Nagpur, Delhi, Dharamshala, and Ahmedabad will be hosting the next three games of the series. After the Tests, both India and Australia will be locking horns in a three-match ODI series starting March 17.

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