Former cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has advised the Indian team against playing on rank turners for the upcoming two-match Test series against West Indies, starting on October 2 in Ahmedabad.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra warned that such pitches could prove counterproductive by reducing the gap between the two sides.

"The biggest thing is what sort of pitches you want to play on in these two matches. We got stuck in Bengaluru when the pitch had a lot of moisture. Then we went to Pune and Mumbai and played on turners, and got stuck in both places. Why do you have to make such pitches?"

Chopra stressed that excessive bowling-friendly conditions could benefit the Caribbean tweakers, potentially making them appear more formidable than they are.

"Such pitches are not required at all because the more bowler-friendly pitches you make, the closer the teams come. You are playing in the subcontinent. So the ball will turn. However, if it turns from the first ball and the soil starts coming out, stay away from that kind of a surface because that surface is counterproductive."

The former India opener advocated for wickets that would allow matches to progress into the fourth or fifth day. "You should play on good pitches where you will have to work a little hard. If the match doesn't get over in three days, so be it. It's a five-day match. It's absolutely fine if it's a three-and-a-half to four-and-a-half day game."

He also highlighted how rank turners have impacted the numbers of quality Indian batters in recent years.

"I will be very honest, if you see Virat Kohli or Cheteshwar Pujara's careers, you will find that the runs they didn't score in the end for a long time, the main reason for that was the Indian pitches. When you make such pitches in India, where runs aren't scored, you don't get confidence, and runs won't be scored overseas in any case."

Chopra referenced India's successful approach during their home series against England last year, where they secured victories in the final four Tests on balanced pitches.

The discussion comes in the context of India's recent experiences on turning pitches, including their 3-0 whitewash at the hands of New Zealand in home conditions last year.