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World Cup 2023: Dravid gives 'Average' rating for Chennai and Ahmedabad pitches

Rahul Dravid, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, recently voiced his disagreement with the "average" pitch ratings for the surfaces in Chennai and Ahmedabad

By Jayesh | Oct 22, 2023 | 2 Min Read

Rahul Dravid, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, recently voiced his disagreement with the “average” pitch ratings for the surfaces in Chennai and Ahmedabad during the 2023 World Cup matches against Australia and Pakistan. He argued that One Day International (ODI) pitches should showcase a diversity of skills rather than consistently favouring high-scoring games. Dravid emphasized the importance of appreciating different aspects of the game, beyond just boundaries and sixes, which are more suited for T20 matches.

Dravid emphasized the importance of not solely judging pitches based on their potential for high scores. He highlighted instances from the T20 World Cup in Australia, where even though the conditions favoured bowlers, they were still regarded positively due to the diverse set of skills that cricket offers. Dravid stressed the importance of recognizing that India’s diverse cricketing landscape produces varying conditions and challenges, and teams that can adapt to these diverse conditions will ultimately succeed.
According to Dravid, making pitches uniform in order to consistently generate high scores of 350 or more diminishes the importance of various skills in cricket.

He emphasized the significance of embracing India’s diverse playing conditions and recognizing the valuable contributions made by bowlers. In a lengthy tournament like the World Cup, the ability to adapt to different challenges is a crucial factor in determining a team’s success. Dravid highlighted the necessity of celebrating all aspects of cricket skills rather than solely focusing on matches with high scoring.