Ian Chappell on the IND vs AUS Test series on giving inputs on pitch preparation by Team India’s management

Ian Chappell on Indian pitches: The third match of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 could not run properly even for two and a half days. In this Test played in Indore, there was so much turn from the first day itself that 30 wickets fell in the first two days. In view of this, the ICC has also given a bad rating to the Indore pitch. Now former Australian cricketer Ian Chappell has slammed Team India regarding this pitch.

Actually, in any bilateral series, the host team gets the pitch prepared according to its own. Now since this four-match Test series against Australia is being played in India, the pitch is being prepared only at the behest of the Indian team management. Like in the first two matches of this series, the Indian team management had given instructions to make a spin friendly pitch in Indore as well. This is because Indian batsmen are adept at playing spin, while Australian players are not able to play spin so well. However, this bet backfired for the Indian team.

Like Nagpur and Delhi, the Indore pitch turned out to be a bit too spin friendly and in the first innings only the Indian team became such a victim that it could not come back in the later match. The Indian team, which has fallen into its own trap, has now been advised by Ian Chappell to stay away from interfering in pitch preparation. He has also said that the responsibility of preparing the pitch should be left to the pitch curators only.

‘Why does Team India give their inputs about the pitch?’
Ian Chappell said, ‘The Indian team should pay attention to their mistakes. I have spoken earlier also about the pitches helping the Indian team in India and am still saying it. Did the Indian team forget that they have won the last two series in Australia. What was everyone else doing besides their team management, coaches, players and curators? Why was he giving his input in terms of preparing the pitch? This is a matter to be left to the pitch curators. Let them prepare such a pitch, which according to them is best for Test cricket.

‘Team India mind its own business’
Chappell says, ‘If Team India keeps demanding a certain kind of pitch then I have no sympathy for them. If he talks about the pitch like this in the next Test as well, I hope the curators tell him clearly to mind his own business. Team India should keep quiet now and focus on playing cricket.

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