"I wish we could curate pitches" - Abhishek Nayar issues clarification on Indian surfaces ahead of IND vs NZ 2024 3rd Test
Team India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has dismissed claims that the management asks for particular type of pitches to be prepared for home Tests. He insisted that the curators prepare surface and the cricketers do the job of playing.
Talks of the Indian team preparing pitches to suit the hosts have gained steam during the ongoing Test series against New Zealand. The first Test in Bengaluru aided seamers, while the second Test in Pune offered plenty to turn. Rohit Sharma and Co. ended up losing both games to concede the three-match series.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, October 30, ahead of the third Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Nayar dismissed claims that the Indian team has a say in pitch preparations at home. He said (as quoted by PTI):
“I wish we could curate pitches, but we don’t. The curators do. Whatever we’re provided with, we go on and play (whether) that’d be a pitch that seamed or a pitch that turned. As cricketers and as a team, we try and play what we’re provided with. We don’t try and get conditions according to what we want.”
India batted first after winning the toss in Bengaluru but were bundled out for 46. They ended up losing the game by eight wickets. In the second Test, the Kiwis beat India by 113 runs as left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner claimed 13 scalps.
"Sometimes, you’ve got to be a little patient, even with the greatest of players" - Nayar on Rohit, Kohli
One of the key factors behind India's shocking loss to New Zealand has been the poor performance of stalwarts Virat Kohli and skipper Rohit. While several fans and critics reckon that their days are numbered, Nayar remains optimistic. Speaking about the lack of runs from the senior duo, he commented:
“Everyone’s worked really hard, everyone wants to do well, whether you’re Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma or even someone as young as Shubman Gill. The effort is there. The approach is great. I feel they’re putting in the hard yards. Sometimes, you’ve got to be a little patient, even with the greatest of players, and they can have tough times.
"I’m pretty sure sooner rather than later, we’ll have more to praise about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and everyone else as well," Nayar added.
While Rohit has scored 62 runs in four innings, Kohli has managed 88 runs. Both batters have crossed the half-century mark only once in the Test series.