Former India player Aakash Chopra has said that the Indian Test side has been found wanting when playing on a slightly bowler-friendly surface. He also added that India have endured multiple batting collapses on such pitches as well. However, Team India were bowled out for 156 in their first innings in the second Test against New Zealand in Pune on Friday as well. New Zealand were 198/5 in their second innings at Stumps as well.

During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Chopra said, “The truth is that if there is slight help from the pitch, this young Indian team is probably not fully ready. If the pitch is good, they play well. When you played against Bangladesh (in Chennai), you were 36/3 in the first hour of the first day, and then 140/6. That was Bangladesh, remember. If you see the first day (in Bengaluru), when the pitch was slightly challenging, the Indian team got out for 46. Here also, when it was a slightly challenging pitch, I won’t say this is a rank turner, I won’t also say this pitch is unplayable, you were bundled out for 156.”

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In the same discussion, Aakash Chopra also added that the Indian batters should be blamed for their dismissals as well.

“We have to blame ourselves. If we see all the dismissals one by one, Shubman Gill was getting troubled for a long time by the straight balls. If you see Virat Kohli, the pitch had no role in it. It was a full toss. After that, we saw Sarfaraz (Khan). The field placement for him was very good, you will have to agree to that. The spin bowling was disciplined. I won’t say it was extraordinary but disciplined for sure. However, the field placements have been very interesting. The Indian team is reminding us once again that we used to say that we play spin well but honestly, we don’t play spin that well now,” Aakash Chopra concluded.