WATCH: “You have to see different skills on display,” Rahul Dravid defends Ahmedabad and Chennai pitches despite ICC’s average ratings

After the International Cricket Council gave the rating of "average" to the pitches of Ahmedabad and Chennai, Rahul Dravid said those pitches were required.

WATCH: “You have to see different skills on display,” Rahul Dravid defends Ahmedabad and Chennai pitches despite ICC’s average ratings

Rahul Dravid gives a team talk to his player (Image via ESPN)

The Indian cricket team has been on a roll so far in the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup. They have won all 4 matches they have played so far and are joint table toppers with New Zealand. They beat Australia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Unfortunately the pitches of Chennai and Ahmedabad, which hosted India’s fixtures with Australia and Pakistan, have been given the rating of “average” by the ICC. Indian head coach, Rahul Dravid, said these ratings were wrong. 

While talking to the press, Dravid expressed his displeasure of the average rating given to the Chennai and Ahmedabad pitch. “I will definitely, respectfully, disagree with the average rating given for those pitches. I’ll answer this in English because I might get myself into trouble!,” said Dravid, which was followed up by laughter from everyone. 

https://youtu.be/KmfI9d6RsqY?si=4NTgvfZx1IiFSGFb

Dravid added. “If you only want to see 350 games and rate only those wickets as good, then I disagree with that. I think, you have to see different skills on display as well.”

Related: “Still crying?”- Michael Vaughan once again complains about Indian pitches, netizens don’t hold back in slamming him

Rahul Dravid is afraid that ODIs are becoming too batter friendly

In the press conference, Rahul Dravid said he was afraid that the ODI format is becoming too favorable for batters. He asked what’s the use of bowlers if all pitches are becoming easier to bat on, like the ones in Delhi or Pune. 

Rahul Dravid speaks to the press (Image via ESPN)

Dravid was also unhappy with how batting friendly the game has become, stating how easier it is to hit. Dravid believes one should be able to see different skills on display, such as the ability to rotate strike like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul against Australia or quality spin bowling by bowlers like Mitchell Santner, Ravindra Jadeja and Adam Zampa. 

Rahul Dravid criticized the pitches of Delhi and Pune, where India played Afghanistan and Bangladesh. He claimed the pitches were really flat and it was a battle of who would hit more boundaries between the two teams. He asked for a better rating system for pitches and said if a good pitch is one where 350+ is easily achievable, that isn’t a good pitch.

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