Legendary Indian cricket team star Ravi Shastri took a massive dig at England batter Ollie Pope regarding the massive controversy around the Ranchi pitch. Ahead of the fourth Test match between India and England, Pope spoke a lot about the surface and expressed his concerns regarding the cracks. However, in a Test match that witnessed several solid knocks from both teams, Pope failed to score a single run and was dismissed for a duck in both innings. During commentary on Day 4, Shastri slammed the batter for his comments and said that cricketers need to play the ball and not the pitch.
âThe pitch was called all sorts of planets before the start. And those who talked about it did not get runs. Ollie Pope was one. Don’t play the pitch, play the ball. Rohit Sharma will do that on Day 4,â he said.
Meanwhile, legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar on Sunday suggested that India captain Rohit Sharma should allow Ravichandran Ashwin to lead the team out on the field in the final Test in Dharamsala, to honour the senior off-spinner in his milestone 100th match.
The 37-year-old Ashwin is playing in his 99th Test in the fourth match here against England and returned with figures of 5/51 in the visitors’ second innings, his 35th five-wicket haul in the longest format.
“India win tomorrow, and you go to Dharamshala (for fifth and final Test), I just hope that Rohit allows you to lead the team out to the field. That’ll be a wonderful gesture, honour for all that you have done for Indian cricket,” Gavaskar said while speaking to Ashwin on Jio Cinema after the end of the third day’s play.
To that, Ashwin replied he would be happy if his presence in the team lasts longer.
“Sunny bhai, you are being too generous, thanks so much. However, expectations about all these things, I think I am well past all that. But genuinely saying, I am enjoying every single moment I am being with this team,” Ashwin said.
“The longer it lasts, I will be happy.”
(With PTI inputs)
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