No Former Indian Player Has Complained Of Grass On SCG Pitch, Says Gavaskar

Sydney: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar took a dig on Australian and said the green top Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) surface hasn’t been a topic of debate among the former Indian players but had it been a spin-friendly pitch in India, the visitors would have gone mad about it.

“Oh, very much. Justin Langer, who’s played in Australia, has said he’s never seen so much grass on a pitch. But what you would have noticed is that no former Indian player has complained or whined about it. If a pitch in India is bereft of grass and looks like it’s going to turn, so many former players from different parts of the world criticize our pitches. But former Indian players rarely complain because we understand the importance of adapting to overseas conditions,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports when asked about the grass on the pitch.

“I haven’t seen so much grass on a Sydney pitch in the past. Probably, the grass cover is on the higher side compared to other pitches in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The batting is tough, and the visiting batters are not able to connect the bat with the ball,” Gavaskar said.

In a lighter vein, he quipped, “Cows would have grazed confidently on the pitch in Sydney.”

The SCG pitch drew comparisons to challenging surfaces from past Tests. Gavaskar commended Pant’s courage and adaptability, highlighting the sharp contrast in pitch conditions from the previous match.

“Rishabh Pant is putting his body on the line for India, and that’s exactly what you need to do on a pitch like this, where tough questions will be asked. It’s easy to underestimate how challenging it is. Look at the previous Test - this one is nastier,” he added. IANS

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