Follow UsIndian pitches have always been under the pump when spinners dominate a Test and the match is decided in 2-3 days. However, pace-friendly pitches do not face such harsh criticisms when the fast bowlers dominate proceedings.
That is what former India batter Aakash Chopra points out and has called out the western media for their silence after what has transpired in the World Test Championship (WTC) final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's.
"A big question I had about this Lord's Test match was that if these 28 wickets had fallen in India in two days' play, wouldn't the western media have created an uproar, as to what sort of pitch they play, the ball is turning and bouncing, batting has become very difficult, and how such pitches can be allowed, that India is doctoring pitches and killing Test cricket," Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel, as per NDTV Sports.
Chopra adds that such an incident would have gotten the Indian pitches in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
"You would have seen these headlines from The Telegraph to The Sydney Morning Herald, and you would have felt what you have done. However, when it happens in England, it's called a sporting pitch, that the batters' defensive technique has gotten spoiled as the ball is not moving that much. If the batters' defensive technique has gotten spoiled, it's valid in India as well," he added.
South Africa need just 69 more runs to win the WTC 2025 final and clinch their first ICC trophy since 1998.