Rohit Sharma, after India's victory against South Africa in the Cape Town Test, emphasized the need for neutrality when assessing cricket pitches, urging ICC-appointed match referees to be impartial in their evaluations.
Expressing his perspective, Rohit highlighted the disparity in reactions to pitch conditions in different countries. He pointed out that while he personally doesn't mind challenging pitches like the one witnessed in Cape Town, there's a significant discrepancy in perceptions based on the country hosting the matches.
Rohit raised concerns about the way pitches are rated, citing examples from previous tournaments, including last year's Men’s ODI World Cup. He emphasized that pitches should be evaluated based on their actual conditions rather than being influenced by the country hosting the match.
He advocated for neutrality in pitch ratings, urging match referees to evaluate pitches objectively regardless of the countries where matches are held. Rohit criticized the inconsistency in assessing pitches, especially highlighting instances where a pitch that saw a batsman score a century was deemed below average.
The Indian captain discussed the varying conditions in different venues, acknowledging the impact of weather and the rapid deterioration of pitches under harsh sunlight. He emphasized the need for fairness in judging pitches, particularly addressing the perception shift when the ball starts spinning early in Test matches held in India.
Rohit emphasized that if seam movement from the start of a match is acceptable, then spin should also be deemed reasonable. He stressed the importance of maintaining impartiality in pitch ratings, reiterating his stance on the matter.
India's upcoming Test series against England at home was also mentioned, underscoring the significance of fair assessments of pitches across the venues set for the series. This statement serves as Rohit's call for consistency and neutrality in evaluating pitches, regardless of the playing conditions and the country hosting the matches.
(With Agency Inputs)
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