Sunil Gavaskar (AFP Photo)
Sunil Gavaskar defended the Ranchi pitch, citing examples of how India have had to play on challenging pitches overseas
Sunil Gavaskar has lashed out at the critics of the JSCA International Stadium Complex pitch in Ranchi, where India and England are currently contesting in the fourth Test match of the ongoing five-match series. The Ranchi pitch offered some genuine lateral movement and zip off the deck to India seamers Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep in the first hour of the opening day of the fixture. Akash went on to pick three wickets in a seven-over ravishing new ball spell, thanks to the nature of the pitch. As the game progressed, the odd ball stayed low with some variable bounce as well. Spinners, especially, have been able to get the ball to turn much more in this Test as compared to the previous three matches, with wickets falling in quick succession more often than not. Gavaskar defended the pitch, citing examples of how India have had to play on challenging pitches overseas.
IND vs ENG, 4th Test Day 4 – LIVE
“I have seen cracks in the pitches of Perth and Brisbane. When the ball hits the crack in Perth, it goes very viciously past your head. But then nothing happens. You got to play that. You got to show your gumption and guts. But when it happens in India, oh my god, all hell breaks loose,” he said on air on JioCinema after Kuldeep Yadav was dismissed by James Anderson on Day 3 with a ball that kept low.
On Day 1, former England captain Michael Vaughan criticised the pitch in a post shared on X, formerly Twitter, after the visitors were left reeling at 112-5 at Lunch.
“The old saying. Do not judge a pitch till both teams have batted and bowled on it but let’s be honest this one looks a shocker,” Michael Vaughan posted.
The old saying .. Do not judge a pitch till both teams have batted and bowled on it .. but let’s be honest .. this one looks a shocker .. #INDvsENG— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 23, 2024
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The match was well-poised at the end of Day 3, with India heading back at 40-0 in a run chase where they required 192 runs. On Day 1, Joe Root scored a century to bail England out of a tough situation and help them post 353 in the first innings.
In reply, wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel and Kuldeep Yadav put on an inspirational 76-run stand for the eighth wicket. Jurel went on to score 90.
In the second innings, England could only manage a paltry 145 on the board as Ravichandran Ashwin (five wickets) and Kuldeep Yadav (four wickets) annihilated the visitors’ batting line-up.
