IND vs SA: After India’s defeat in the first Test, Sunil Gavaskar had said that if the Indian team had played a practice match, it would not have faced any problems. After this, Rohit has told why Team India plays intra squad practice matches.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma has explained why Team India plays intra-squad practice matches instead of practice matches on foreign tours. He has made it clear that there is a world of difference between the pitch given for the practice match and the pitch used in the actual match. At the same time, the level of players playing in both the teams is also quite different. Because of this, the team will not get any benefit from playing the first-class practice test.
IND vs SA: In the press conference after losing the first Test against South Africa by an innings and 32 runs, Rohit was asked about the team’s decision to ignore the practice matches for intra-squad matches. After the match was over, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar also protested against the intra-squad match. Rohit highlighted the pitch and the players of the opposition team in the practice matches as the reason behind the team’s decision to play intra-squad matches. The Indian captain said that the wickets the team gets in practice matches do not have the bounce and pace of the pitches in the actual match.
IND vs SA: Rohit said “We have been playing practice matches for the last 4-5 years. We also tried to play first-class matches. The wickets you get in matches, you will not get in practice matches. It is better that we play according to our requirements.” Prepare accordingly, we prepare the pitch as per our requirements. We can control the field. When we last went to Australia, when we played South Africa in 2018, in the practice match the ball was not above the knee. Used to bounce. But here, the ball flies over your head. So this was considered and we decided to prepare as per our style.” IND vs SA
Aakash Chopra included three more Indian players in his Test XI along with Rohit Sharma.
Rohit said that he is ready to play practice Tests on overseas tours provided the pitches are similar to those used in actual matches. The Indian captain said “If you get conditions in the practice match which will be similar to the Test, then it is fine. We get fast bowlers who bowl at 120-125 kmph. We have got such conditions in the last two or three “We have experienced this in the practice matches. It is better that we face our own bowlers and prepare the pitch as per our wish.” IND vs SA
IND vs SA: What did Gavaskar say?
Sunil Gavaskar had criticized Rohit Sharma and the team management’s decision of not playing first-class practice matches before the start of the series. Gavaskar had said, “You did not play any match here before the series. This is the main reason. If you play test matches directly, it will not work. Yes, you sent India A team. The India A team really should have arrived earlier in the tour. After coming here you need to play practice matches. Intra-squad is a joke because will your fast bowlers bowl too fast to your batsmen? Will they bowl bouncers? They will be afraid of injuring their batsmen.” IND vs SA
Source Sportskeeda
Thats true, its not fair to give opponent team pitch like this. Rohit Sharma is correct in a way.
It like preparing for different match.