IND vs NZ WC 2023: Sunil Ghavaskar and Micheal Vaughan Reacts to Wankhede Pitch Controversy

Reactions of Gavaskar and Micheal for “Pitch Change Controversy” at WC 2023: As we all know, on November 15 at Wankhede Stadium, India and New Zealand are going to clash and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) allegedly asked to change the pitch in the Wankhede.

Ahead of the knockout fixture, a controversy erupted over allegations of a last-minute change in pitch. Instead of a ‘fresh pitch’, approved by the International Cricket Council(ICC) pitch consultant, BCCI has opted to use a ‘used pitch’ for the big ticket clash.

Multiple Former cricketers have reacted to this story and Gavaskar and Micheal are one of them.

Gavaskar, Vaughan React To Pitch Change Controversy

According to the Daily Mail Report, the ICC pitch consultant, Atkinson initially stamped an unused surface, to be used for the semi-final at Wankhede Stadium, but the decision was later changed to be used as a used surface.

Finally, the report claimed that the pitch that is going to be used in the Wankhede Stadium for the semi-finals has already been used twice.

Reacting to this controversy Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar talking about this pitch, said that,

“The pitch is there for all the teams, so I don’t think there should be too much discussion on what this pitch will do or not do. I do believe that this Indian team is perfectly capable of handling any kind of surface. Having you seen that in the tournament so far. And if it’s a drier pitch, which is likely to be the case simply because the rains have gone. So there will be there is no hint of any moisture,” Gavaskar told India Today.

“Yes, there will be one which there might be just a little bit of spin, no question about it. But the Mumbai pitch is generally very good for bating, so I don’t think there should be too much of an issue. With the kind of bowling that we have, bowlers who have bowled superbly, whether they are bowling first or second, I don’t think the pitch would be too much of an issue at all,” he added.

“I think this is typically, you know, on the eve of the match when you have nothing to write about and then, you know, you try to say something because you want to fill in your columns, you want to talk about pitches and stuff like that. To me, it doesn’t make a difference. If the pitch changes after the toss, they certainly have a conversation. But if the pitch is the same before the toss, I don’t think any any noise should be made at all,” he further remarked.

And for the same controversy, Micheal Vaughan reacted and said that, suggesting a fresh pitch might be useful for the semi finals.

“A World Cup semi should be played on a fresh pitch .. It’s as simple as that ..” tweeted Vaughan.

A World Cup semi should be played on a fresh pitch .. It’s as simple as that .. https://t.co/dRf6rlTO2O

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 15, 2023

Even New Zealand did not object about this “pitch change” yet, this also should be noted. And as India is the most dominant side in the league stage as they won all the nine games. This controversy has taken a bit of the limelight from the mouth watering clash between two top teams.