‘Pitch ke ilawa koi baat nahi hai kya’ – Rahul Dravid’s ‘Pitches becoming challenging’ remark attracts ire from fans ahead of 4th BGT Test

As World Test Championship points are valuable and the majority of nations are preparing result-oriented pitches, India’s head coach Rahul Dravid has no regrets whatsoever about playing the current Test series against Australia on spinner-friendly surfaces. Notwithstanding the fact that India leads Australia 2-1 in the four-test series, Cricket Governing Body’s Match Referee Chris Broad’s “poor” rating of the Indore track has once again highlighted concerns about playing on rank turners, where all of the games were completed in three days.

“I won’t go too much into it. The match referee is entitled to share his opinion. Doesn’t really matter if I agree with his reading or not. Doesn’t matter what I think. But sometimes with WTC points at stake, you tend to play on wickets that produce results,” Dravid was quoted as saying while defending the Nagpur, Delhi and Indore pitch.

There is a huge premium on results: Rahul Dravid

He made sure to emphasize that the 22-yard patches have typically proven difficult, according to data analysis of tracks built by home teams in recent years. “It can happen, not only in India but across the world if you see, sometimes it is difficult to get that balance perfectly right for everyone and that can happen not only here but in other places as well,” former Indian cricketer stated.

David did provide some clarity on the reason behind the request for these types of pitches. The 2021 Test match between India and New Zealand at Kanpur was the one in which they failed to take nine wickets on the last day. “There is a huge premium on results and if you draw a game as we did in Kanpur versus New Zealand, that sets you back in a home game. When you have 12 for a win and 4 for draw, you want to get a win ahead of a draw,” the 50-year-old asserted.

Here’s how fans reacted to Rahul Dravid’s statement:

Pitches may be good or average or below average… But do batsmans have enough skill & technique to play there?…

— இளையபாரதி (@itseb22) March 7, 2023

Which can also be interpreted, batting quality all over the world has dipped….
T20 batting pitches are exclusively curated for entertainment

— Aumkar Gholap (@AumkarGholap) March 7, 2023

He didn't watch Pakistan vs Australia 😂

— 😍🥰😍 (@unbiasedpctfan) March 7, 2023

Acc to nostalgia 14 current era produces flat decks

— 133* 𓃵 #PerryFan (@133_NotOut) March 7, 2023

Dravid has copied the style of Ms. @nsitharaman. "Batting skills aren't impacted over the years, pitches all over the world have become challenging"

— Gaurav Ambre (@ImGauravAmbre) March 7, 2023

Batsmen are becoming cowards rather than pitch getting challenging. Simple as that

— Tom Gravestone (Less active till March End) (@Whygravestone) March 7, 2023

That needed to be done. In the eras of T20 and T10, domination of batters has increased and that needed to be stopped. Glad to know thattest cricket is getting fair contest between bat and bowl

— Elijah Mikaelson (@mrEMikaelson) March 7, 2023

Pitches may be good or average or below average… But do batsmans have enough skill & technique to play there?…

— இளையபாரதி (@itseb22) March 7, 2023

it will become more difficult for our batters if you remain in the coaching seat 🥲

— Rubix Cube (@RubixCube99) March 7, 2023

Pitch ke ilawa koi baat nahi hai kya??

— Cric Wizard (@CricWizz_13579) March 8, 2023