Western media would’ve created an uproar if 28 wickets fell in India: Aakash
The ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s has been a thrilling affair, with 28 wickets falling in just two days of play. The pitch has been a major talking point, with many former cricketers and experts weighing in on its quality. One such expert is ex-India batter Aakash Chopra, who has taken a dig at the Western media, saying that if 28 wickets had fallen in an India versus England Test match, the media would have created an uproar.
In an interview with News18, Aakash Chopra said, “If 28 wickets had fallen in an India-England Test match, the Western media would have created an uproar. They would have accused us of doctoring the pitch and killing Test cricket.” However, when the same thing happens in England, it’s called a “sporting pitch”.
Chopra’s comments come after India’s innings was wrapped up by England on the second day of the WTC final, with the hosts taking a 139-run lead. The pitch has been criticized for being green and uneven, with many former cricketers saying that it’s not conducive to Test cricket.
The Indian team, however, has been defending the pitch, saying that it’s a typical English pitch. Many Indian fans have also taken to social media to defend the pitch, saying that it’s not as bad as the ones they’ve seen in India.
But Chopra’s comments suggest that there may be some bias in the way the pitch is perceived. If an Indian pitch was as green and uneven as the one at Lord’s, it would be widely criticized and accused of being a “result-oriented” pitch. But when England’s pitch is similarly green and uneven, it’s considered a “sporting pitch”.
Chopra’s comments also raise questions about the double standards applied to pitches in different parts of the world. Why is it that a pitch that is considered “sporting” in England is not considered so in India? Is it because the Indian team is not as strong as the English team, and therefore, the pitch is not considered as “result-oriented”?
The issue of pitch quality has been a hot topic in cricket for many years, with many former cricketers and experts calling for more consistency in the way pitches are prepared around the world. However, despite these calls, the problem persists, with different countries having different standards for pitch quality.
In the past, there have been instances where Indian pitches have been criticized for being too green and uneven, while English pitches have been praised for being “sporting”. However, Chopra’s comments suggest that there may be some bias in the way pitches are perceived, and that the Western media may be more likely to criticize Indian pitches than English ones.
The WTC final is a significant event in the cricket calendar, and the way the pitch is perceived could have a significant impact on the outcome of the match. However, regardless of the outcome, Chopra’s comments highlight the need for consistency in the way pitches are prepared around the world.
In conclusion, Aakash Chopra’s comments about the WTC final pitch are a timely reminder of the need for consistency in the way pitches are prepared around the world. The issue of pitch quality has been a hot topic in cricket for many years, and it’s time that the International Cricket Council (ICC) takes steps to address this issue and ensure that pitches around the world are consistent and fair for all teams.
