“Those who talked about the pitch did not get a run”: Ravi Shastri’s explosive statement. cricket news

Indian cricket team’s veteran star Ravi Shastri took a dig at England batsman Ollie Pope over the big controversy regarding the Ranchi pitch. Before the fourth Test match between India and England, Pope talked a lot about the surface and expressed his concern about cracks. However, in a Test match that saw several solid innings from both teams, Pope failed to score a single run and was out for a duck in both innings. During commentary on the fourth day, Shastri criticized the batsmen for their comments and said that cricketers need to play the ball, not the pitch.

“Before the beginning Pitch was called all kinds of planets. And those who talked about it did not get runs. Ollie Pope was one. Don’t play pitch, play ball. Rohit Sharma will do it on the fourth day,” he said.

Meanwhile, batting great Sunil Gavaskar on Sunday suggested that India captain Rohit Sharma should allow Ravichandran Ashwin to lead the team on the field in the final Test in Dharamsala to honor the senior off-spinner in his 100th match.

The 37-year-old Ashwin, playing his 99th Test in the fourth match against England here, returned with figures of 5/51 in the visitors’ second innings, his 35th five-wicket haul in the longest format.

“India will win tomorrow, and you will go to Dharamsala (for the fifth and final Test), I just hope that Rohit will allow you to lead the team on the field. It would be a wonderful gesture, respect for what you have done.” Indian cricket will happen,” Gavaskar said while speaking to Ashwin on Jio Cinema after the end of the third day’s play.

On this Ashwin said that he would be happy if his presence in the team lasts for a long time.

“Sunny bhai, you are very generous, thank you so much. However, the expectations about all these things, I think I am way ahead of them all. But actually saying, I enjoy every single moment with this team. Enjoying it,” Ashwin said.

“The longer this lasts, the happier I’ll be.”

(With PTI inputs)