SA vs IND 2nd Test: Rohit Sharma blasts ICC over pitch rating policy after India’s win against Proteas

Team India skipper Rohit Sharma blasted the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday after India beat hosts South Africa in the second Test match in Cape Town. After the seven-wicket win, the shortest Test match in the 167-year history of cricket, Rohit took a dig at ICC and its rating policy for pitches.

According to Rohit, the Newlands pitch was a nightmare to play while downplaying ICC’s rating for the pitch used in Ahmedabad for the ICC Men’s World Cup final in November between India and Australia.

The Newlands surface, initially appearing benign, revealed its deceptive nature as a whopping 23 wickets tumbled on the very first day of action, ultimately causing the game to end in less than 2 days.

Rohit Blasts on ICC

“I still can’t believe that the World Cup final pitch was rated below average. A batsman got a hundred there in the final. How can that be a poor pitch? So these are the things the ICC, the match referees, need to look into and start rating pitches based on what they see, not based on the countries. I think that’s quite important,” Rohit said in the post-match press conference.

Ahmedabad World Cup final pitch was rated unsatisfactory as per ICC. Travis Head was announced Player of the Match with a century and almost 500 runs scored in the match.

However, according to Rohit’s reaction on Thursday, the pitch in Cape Town was a batter’s nightmare and ICC should rework its rating policy.

“Honestly, I would like to see how the pitches are rated. I want to see that. Whatever… that chart, I would love to see, how they rate the pitches, because Mumbai, Bangalore, Cape Town, and Centurion, all have different venues, and overhead conditions are different. The pitches deteriorate quite fast when the sun is beating down that hard on the pitch,” the skipper added.

‘You come here to challenge yourself’: Rohit Sharma on Pitch

Rohit boldly declared his acceptance of challenging pitches, asserting his readiness to face such conditions.

“I don’t mind being on pitches like this as long as everyone keeps their mouth shut in India and no one is talking about the pitches there,” Rohit said Thursday after the match. Yes, it is dangerous, but you come here (South Africa) to challenge yourself, and you must face up to it,” Rohit said in the post-match press conference.