Team India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels that just like a high scoring clash, a low scoring game is also a good advertisement for T20 cricket. He said this in the aftermath of the Lucknow T20 debacle as it was difficult for both sides to reach three figures. While India defeated the Kiwis in that match, they struggled big time and even a chase of 100 runs became very tough.
The hosts eventually went on to win the T20I series with complete dominance but there was close scrutiny on the Lucknow wicket as it was sluggish and unsuitable for T20 cricket as the fans did not get to see a single six.
Even Indian captain Hardik Pandya shared his disappointment regarding the pitch as he termed it as a shocker of a pitch. However Ashwin disagreed with the explosive allrounder and shared his opinion on the sluggish wicket. He highlighted that the batters are not used to playing quality spin in T20 cricket and therefore they were out for cheap.
“The main thing I noticed in the series against New Zealand was the low-scoring game in the T20Is. Many of them (fans) asked, “Is 100 even a target or what? Why did they make it so difficult?” I noticed some of those comments in our YouTube section and felt really bad reading those comments,” Ashwin shared his views on the Lucknow pitch.
He shared that the modern bay batters are not well versed with lateral movement or spin in the shorter format of the game. The Indian spinner highlights how the average score in the format is around 170-180 and batters are required to only hit through the line when the ball is pitch dup to them.
“In today’s world, when it comes to T20 cricket, a batter’s requirement is just how well he can hit through the line when the ball is pitched up. 170-180 is considered the minimum score these days. They don’t face turning balls or lateral moment so much in T20 cricket. They don’t have enough practice to face that as well,” Ashwin explained.
Lastly he wanted to portray that even a low scoring game can be exciting for the fans and be a good advertisement for the T20 format. “That low-scoring game became a thriller. But did the ball turn massively? Yes, the odd-ball did turn massively. But, just like a high-scoring thriller, a low-scoring thriller is also a great advertisement for the game,” he concluded.
Looking back at the 2nd T20I in Lucknow, Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bat first. But their innings went nowhere as they were restricted for a paltry 99-8 at the end of 20 overs. India also had their fair share of troubles as they came out to chase. But the experience of Suryakumar Yadav and captain Hardik Pandya steered them home. But still the game entered the final over as one could not say when a wicket would fall.
Hardik Pandya criticized the pitch after India’s six wicket win over the Kiwis as they restored parity in the series in Lucknow. He felt that the pitches in the first two matches of the T20 series were not T20 wickets.
“To be honest, it was a shocker of a wicket. Both the games we have played on so far. I don’t mind difficult wickets. I am all up for that, but these two wickets are not made for T20. Somewhere down the line the curators or the grounds that we are going to play in should make sure they prepare the pitches earlier,” Pandya stated at the post match press conference.
India then went on to post 234-4 in the 3rd T20I held at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad with Shubman Gill scoring a blistering century. India bowlers also raised mayhem as they bundled the Kiwis to a paltry 66 in just 12.1 overs and registered a hammering 168 runs win in the decider.
