‘Every team plays to their strengths at home’ – Rohit Sharma slams Chepauk pitch critics

There has been a lot of talk about the pitch at the MA Chidambaram stadium that was used for the second Test between India and England. Former England skipper Michael Vaughan was scathing in his criticism of the Chennai pitch, and had even rated it as a ‘poor one’.

On Sunday (February 21), India’s opening batsman Rohit Sharma had some strong words to offer for those criticising the pitch. The ‘Hitman’ was of the opinion that when the Indian side travels overseas, they need to adapt to and overcome challenging pitch and weather conditions whereas the hosts enjoy home advantage. So, the Indian team can also stick to their strengths in home conditions, thereby posing a challenge to their visiting opponents.

Rohit added that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should take out the entire ‘Home and Away’ concept, and they should also make a rule as to how pitches should behave. Sharma also opined that the Indian side never complains when they travel overseas.

“When we travel overseas no one thinks about us, so why should we think about them? The ICC should do one thing- they should remove the home and away concept and make a rule that the pitches should be of a certain manner. We never complain about the pitches that are dished out to us when we play overseas,” said Rohit Sharma in a virtual press conference.

The pitch is the same for both the teams: Rohit Sharma

The Indian opener said that the pitch was the same for both sides and does not understand why there is so much fuss about it. He added that the pitches in India have always behaved in the same manner for years together, and every side in the world plays according to their strengths in home conditions.

“The pitch is the same for both teams. So I don’t know why there’s so much talk about the pitch. People say that the pitch shouldn’t be a certain type of way, but they have been like this in India for years. Every team plays to their strengths at home, and similarly, we do what our team prefers in India,” he concluded.

The third Test between India and England is set to begin on February 24 at the newly-built Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad. It will be the second-ever Day-Night Test match on Indian soil.

Watch the full video here:

?️?️ Every team has the right to home advantage, reckons @ImRo45. @Paytm #INDvENG #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/ZbF7ufj01M

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 21, 2021