The five-Test series between India and Pakistan is slated to get underway on January 25 in Hyderabad.
The Test match lasted 107 overs and just a little over four sessions, making it the shortest ever in the history of cricket.
South Africa’s first innings folded for a mere 55 on Day 1 while the tourists were bowled out for 153. The Proteas ended the opening day at 62/3 in their second innings.
The pitch didn't fare any better on Day 2 as South Africa were bundled out for 176, setting a paltry target of 79 for India, which they chased down in 12 overs to level the two-match series 1-1.
After the game, India skipper Rohit Sharma said he is happy playing on pitches like the one in Cape Town until the ICC and match referees keep mum on spin-friendly tracks in India.
Rohit further stated that the ICC should not show double standards in rating a pitch based on spin or seam on Day 1.
The Indian captain’s comments created quite a stir on social media, and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar also joined the debate on Sunday (January 7).
In his column for Mid-Day, Gavaskar spoke about the 'excuses' made for pitches such as the one at Newlands.
“These kind of excuses that the curator got it wrong is typical of the SENA countries,” Gavaskar wrote.
“When our curators make a dry pitch then it’s ‘chicanery’, as a former Australian skipper said last year after the Aussies had been walloped in the first two Test matches. So our groundsmen do it deliberately, but their groundsmen just get it wrong. It’s like before the third country umpires came in, where decisions by their umpires were excused as ‘human error’ while our umpires were cheats and ‘Delhi Butchers’ and all such derogatory headlines,” he added.
India’s next red-ball assignment is scheduled against England at home. The five-match Test series is slated to get underway on January 25 in Hyderabad.
With two weeks remaining for the Test series, Gavaskar launched a scathing attack on the English media for their coverage of overseas tours.
“In about three weeks time another Test series starts with a country that has the biggest whingeing and moaning media in sport. Anything that doesn’t suit their team will be criticised and allegations will fly thick and fast,” the former India skipper wrote.