India’s head coach Ravi Shastri on Wednesday asserted that the current Team India does not believe in complaining and they will not make tough conditions an excuse for its performances as such kind of pitches are expected in the upcoming grueling five-match Test series against England. There were reports that Indian team management is not happy with pitch and outfield at the Essex county ground, where they are playing the only warm-up game that was reduced to three days owing to the heat wave in England.

But Shastri in his own unique style said his team doesn’t make excuses. He said, ”My philosophy is very simple (in) your country, I don’t ask questions. (In) my country, you don’t ask. I said (to groundsmen) leave it, and don’t take anything off. We take pride in performing wherever we go and we want to be the best traveling side in the world. The last person to complain will be this Indian team (sic), so I want to clarify this very clearly.”

Indian coach further dispersed any doubts about complaints regarding the pitch or the outfield, which is very dry and bears only patches of grass. There was good grass on that (pitch). When the groundsmen asked if the team management wanted the grass to be taken off, Shastri replied with an absolute no. 

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Shastri said that searing heat was a factor as far as ‘cricketing reasons’ are concerned, and the team wanted better preparation ahead of the first Test starting in Birmingham on August 1. He clarified, ”The game was reduced from four days to three because of the logistics and the weather prevailing. We had an opportunity to practice three days in Birmingham, which is the Test match venue.”

India’s head described that the decision to shorten the game was made during practice on Tuesday. They were even looking to have a two-day game as well so that they would’ve got better practice in Birmingham. 

The basic idea was to have a session at the Edgbaston on Sunday. Shastri concluded, “And travel on Saturday, to be able to practice on Sunday. The reason is to get to the Test match venue because it wouldn’t have served any purpose with an extra day here. An extra day there will give us more familiarity with the venue and the conditions where you are playing the first Test.”