'You cannot be complaining all the time' - Sunil Gavaskar slams critics of Chepauk pitch for India vs England 2nd Test

The pitch for the second Test between India and England in Chennai has come under the scanner. The surface started turning from Day 1 itself even as Rohit Sharma slammed a brilliant 161 while Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant scored half-centuries. However, England batsmen crumbled in front of the Indian spinners, especially Ravi Ashwin, and got bowled out for 134 runs.

The way the ball was turning, many began criticising the quality of the pitch. Former England cricketers including Michael Vaughan and Matt Prior were not happy at all with the surface on offer at Chepauk. Rather the likes of Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann responded to them speaking in favour of the pitch and now former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has slammed the critics.

He pointed out the way Rohit Sharma batted on the same pitch and while Gavaskar was also receptive towards feedback on the pitches, he went on to say that even England make green tops while playing at home. “We saw how Rohit Sharma getting 150, and yesterday he was getting close to ball and batting. This criticism (on pitch) is pretty warranted,” he said while speaking on Star Sports.

“Some of them are saying that – but you have a seaming pitch in England. Australia get dismissed for 46 – the ball keeps seeming all throughout. No one talks about that. It’s always about Indian pitches, and when the ball starts to turn, people pose a problem,” Gavaskar further added.

Many complained when pitch for 1st Test was flat, says Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar also recalled that many wanted the balance between bat and ball when the pitch for the first Test was almost like a road. Almost nothing happened off the surface till the third day’s play. “It’s not unplayable. It’s a challenging pitch, and that’s what cricket should be about.

“In the first Test, on the first two days, when nothing was happening, people were saying ‘it’s boring, nothing is happening. It’s so easy to bat.’ So, there has to be a bit of balance between what is said. You cannot be complaining all the time,” Gavaskar further said. Meanwhile, India have recovered from early blows in the second innings and the partnership between Virat Kohli and Ravi Ashwin proves that the pitch is clearly not unplayable.