Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa added that the controversial Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) pitch for the fourth Ashes 2025-26 Test wasn’t impossible to bat, stating that the venue is known to help the pace bowlers. He also said that the batters needed the right application on the deck, adding that Indian players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane would have thrived on that surface and post at least 250 as well.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Robin Uthappa said: “See, it’s a dichotomous situation. It’s not like it’s an impossible wicket. There are such wickets in Melbourne which are very juicy for fast bowlers… I think it’s because of the way cricket is played today. I feel like these pitches are unsporty, but if you’ve the right technique and the right mindset and the fight in you, you’ll be able to figure out a solution for this kind of a wicket also. It’s not a high-scoring game, but it’s not… It won’t be a 300-plus game, but even a 250 on this wicket is possible. You gotta fight it out. Play like Puji and Ajinkya Rahane. Definitely, you’ll score runs.”

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Robin Uthappa also said that a player like Joe Root, who has 40 Test centuries, looked foxed in the fourth Ashes Test, especially in the second Test. He also called it an unfortunate moment in Test cricket as well.

“I am saying this with a grain of salt because the way we’re playing Test cricket has now changed. I don’t enjoy it a lot – like the Ashes Test matches that finished in two days. What are we doing to the sport for entertainment? Joe Root looked too lost in that Test match. He didn’t know how to play, play attacking cricket, or play his own way in the second innings. It was quite unfortunate… I empathize with them,” Robin Uthappa concluded.