Former India opener, Aakash Chopra gives a contradictory opinion to that of Ravi Shastri regarding the pitch conditions for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, saying he wouldn’t want pitches that turn for the ball one of the Test matches in the upcoming 4-match series against Australia. Shastri, former India head coach, had suggested that India play on pitches that turn from Day 1 in the much-anticipated Test series.
Talking about the same in the latest video on his Youtube channel, Aakash Chopra said it becomes a battle of luck if the pitch offers big turn from the opening day and he would rather want to see pitches that deteriorate gradually before assisting the batters on the first two days.
Earlier this year during a Ranji Trophy game between Vidarbha and Gujarat in Nagpur, the latter was chasing 72 against the hosts and they were bowled out for just 54 as spinners ruled roost at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.
Talking about the same, Aakash Chopra said, “Ravi Shastri has said that the ball should turn from the first ball itself. Rank turners are not something that I would personally subscribe to because the contest becomes even if the pitch turns more. Luck plays a bigger role there.”
He further added, “If the pitch goes the normal way, where it is good for batting on the first day and slowly starts turning, eventually it becomes a very good turner on Day 4 and Day 5 and spinners rule the roost, your batting against spin is tested and there is help for reverse swing. That is an ideal surface.”
Aakash Chopra also responded to Ian Healy and Justin Langar’s statements on “fair pitches” for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, questioning the former cricketers as to what is a “fair” and “unfair” pitch.
Chopra pointed out that Australia’s only win on their last trip to India came in the Pune Test where the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium offered prodigious turn for the spinners. India did not offer rank-turners from the 2nd Test and went on to stage a stunning comeback to win the Test series 2-1 against a Steve Smith-led visiting team.
Referring to the 2017 series, Aakash Chopra said, “Justin Langer is asking for the matches to be played on fair pitches, it should not turn too much. The pitches you are calling unfair surfaces, the only Test match Australia has won in the last two or three tours was on such a surface.”
