Cheteshwar Pujara, one of India’s most reliable Test batters of the modern era, has voiced strong concerns about the use of rank turners in Indian cricket. Reflecting on the strategy employed during the last World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, Pujara admitted that while such pitches were prepared to force results, they ultimately harmed India’s batting unit and the overall balance of Test cricket.
India’s overreliance on spin-friendly tracks backfired dramatically. The turning point came in October 2024, when India faced a shocking 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand at home. This was their first Test series defeat on home soil since the famous 2012 series loss to England. In that contest, the pitches spun sharply from Day 1, and out of 108 wickets across three Tests, spinners accounted for 81.
New Zealand’s left-arm duo, Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner, consistently exploited conditions, exposing India’s batting vulnerabilities. Speaking to India Today, Pujara explained that these surfaces often diminish batting skill and put undue pressure on players.
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“On such tracks, luck plays a bigger role than technique. Instead of building long innings, batters are forced to attack and settle for quick 40s or 50s. That’s not ideal for Test cricket, which should be a true test of skill and patience,” Cheteshwar Pujara said.
The veteran added that while the intention behind such pitches was to deliver results in a competitive WTC cycle, it ultimately had the opposite effect. India not only lost crucial matches but also risked damaging the confidence of its batters, many of whom struggled to adapt to conditions outside Asia.
Cheteshwar Pujara, who announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket on August 24, 2025, also urged the management to prepare more balanced wickets.
“I’m not saying the ball shouldn’t turn—it should. But matches ending inside three days do not help the game. Ideally, we should prepare pitches that stretch into the fourth and fifth day, giving batters and bowlers an equal chance to showcase their skills,” he suggested.
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Over his 13-year career, Pujara built a reputation as the bedrock of India’s Test batting, playing crucial roles in famous series wins overseas. He retires with 7,195 runs in 103 Tests, including 19 centuries and a highest score of 206 not out. Beyond red-ball cricket, he also featured in five ODIs and represented Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.
