Legendary former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has launched a scathing attack on what he terms “double standards” in the way cricket pitches are evaluated, particularly between subcontinental venues and those from SENA countries-South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia. His outspoken comments follow the first Test of the Ashes at Perth, where 32 wickets fell in just two days, yet there’s been little critique of the surface.
Gavaskar mentioned this in his column, how on a recent pitch that yielded 19 wickets on a single day, there were very few voices that raised questions about its state, whereas this is something that pitches in India get criticized for all the time.
Why is Gavaskar Calling Out hypocrisy Now?
Gavaskar’s comments come in the face of the burning controversy surrounding the Eden Gardens pitch after India’s recent Test vs. South Africa. Critics slammed the Kolkata surface for being spin-heavy, but Gavaskar strongly defended it, calling the criticism to be selective and unfair.
He also felt that while seams and bounce are accepted overseas, like in Perth, local tracks, which assist spinnersonly, are repeatedly attacked. He also wondered why visiting experts, who seldom speak out when 15 wickets fall in a session overseas, react when it happens in India.
What Sunil Gavaskar said About the Eden Gardens pitch?
For Gavaskar, the Eden Gardens wicket wasn’t a “vicious turning” surface, but one that needed patience and proper Test match batting technique.
Gavaskar defended the decision made by India’s coach Gautam Gambhir, saying they asked for a spinner-friendly pitch and that is what they got.
Gavaskar further cautioned against overcorrecting or micromanaging curators. In his opinion, they should be allowed to do their jobs without the boards or critics second-guessing them.
Sunil Gavaskar on Pointing Fingers
The outspoken Gavaskar didn’t hold himself back as he attacked the former players and pundits who, according to him, only question Indian pitches when that suits their narrative. He accused some of hypocrisy, especially when wickets tumble abroad and yet go largely unmentioned.
He also responded to criticisms from those who feel that Indian curators lack integrity. “Three of the same hand pointing back at you,” he warned, suggesting that the anger directed at Indian pitches often finds its mirror image elsewhere.
How does this debate reflect larger issues in Cricket?
Gavaskar’s rant is more than just about that one pitch. It signals something deeper: frustration with perceived bias in cricket commentary and governance. For him, it wasn’t about individual Tests – it was about how the subcontinent was so often judged by a double-edged standard compared to the Western cricketing nations.
His comments also raise broader questions about pitch preparation, board influence and whether cricket’s traditional values-such as playing tactically and enduring tough tracks-are being sacrificed in favor of flat, batter-friendly surfaces.
