‘Keep eyes open…’ – India skipper Rohit Sharma slams Apex Cricket Council, calls for fairness in pitch ratings

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma has voiced strong criticism against the Apex Cricket Council and match referees regarding their assessment of pitches. Following India’s record-breaking victory in the shortest Test match, Rohit expressed discontent with what he perceives as double standards in rating pitches. He highlighted the need for fairness and neutrality in evaluating pitches, calling for an end to biased assessments.

Rohit emphasised his willingness to play on challenging pitches but stressed the importance of not unfairly criticising Indian pitches. He argued that when teams come to India, they should be prepared for the challenges posed by the conditions, just as Indian teams face challenges abroad. Rohit urged everyone to appreciate Test cricket’s difficulty and refrain from excessive criticism.

“I mean, we saw what happened in this match, how the pitch played, and stuff like that,” Rohit stated. “I honestly don’t mind playing on pitches like this. As long as everyone keeps their mouth shut in India and doesn’t talk too much about Indian pitches.

“Because you came here to challenge yourself. Yes, it is dangerous. It is challenging. So, when people come to India, it is again pretty challenging as well. When you are here to play Test cricket, we talk about Test cricket, the ultimate prize, Test cricket being the pinnacle, and stuff like that. I think it’s important that we also stand by it.”

“When you are put up against a challenge like that, you come and face it. That’s what happens in India, but, in India on day one, if the pitch starts turning, people start talking about ‘Puff of dust! A puff of dust!’ There’s so much cracking here on the pitch. People are not looking at that.”

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In particular, Rohit singled out match referees and questioned the ratings given to pitches during the previous year’s World Cup in India. He called for transparency in the rating process and suggested that pitches should be evaluated based on actual observations rather than preconceived biases tied to specific countries.

Expressing disbelief over the World Cup final pitch being rated below average despite a batsman scoring a century, Rohit called for a reevaluation of the criteria used in pitch assessments. He urged the Apex Cricket Council and match referees to consider the actual performance on the pitch rather than being influenced by the reputation of the hosting country.

“I still can’t believe that the World Cup final pitch was rated below average. A batsman got a hundred there in the final. How can that be a poor pitch? So these are the things the Apex Cricket Council, the match referees, need to look into and start rating pitches based on what they see, not based on the countries. I think that’s quite important.

“So I hope they keep their ears and eyes open and look into those aspects of the game. Honestly, I’m all for pitches like this. We want to challenge playing on pitches like this. We pride ourselves on playing on pitches like this. Uh, but all I want to say is be neutral.”

As India prepares for a five-match Test series against England starting on January 25, Rohit’s comments shed light on the broader issue of pitch assessments in international cricket. He advocates for a fair and neutral approach that considers the playing conditions rather than relying on preconceived notions about pitches in specific countries. Rohit’s stance highlights the importance of maintaining the integrity of the game and ensuring that evaluations are based on merit rather than bias.