Gavaskar taunts ICC after Indore Pitch gets 3 demerit points

The third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test between Australia and India concluded in Indore on Friday just under three days, with the visitors prevailing by nine wickets. The surface at Holkar Stadium, where the third Test was played as part of the ICC World Test Championship, was rated “bad” by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following the match according to the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Procedure.

As the ball began to turn on the surface from the start of the match, spinners from both teams were crucial to the outcome of the game. As a result, the spinners took 26 of the total 31 wickets that were lost in the game, while the pacers only claimed 4 of them. One was run-out “in a statement, the ICC

Following conversation with both Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith, in the third Test, ICC Match Referee Chris Broad filed his report, which resulted in the Holkar Stadium receiving three demerit points.”

Whereas, Indian Great Sunil Gavaskar, acknowledged that the Indore surface was difficult to bat on but questioned how the demerit points were given.

"Threat to life and limb" #SunilGavaskar gives #Gabba reference as he questions #Indore getting 3 demerit points after the 3rd #INDvAUS Test #IndianCricketTeam #Brisbane https://t.co/M5Mkwmqhqq

— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) March 4, 2023

“The pitch was difficult to hit. The results show that it was a difficult pitch to bat on. For the simple fact that if the wicket had been that difficult to bat on, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne would not have put up a stand of more than 90 runs, I believe that three demerit points are a little excessive. If the surface was so unplayable, Day 3’s 77-run stand would not have occurred “India Today quoted Gavaskar.

“Quite a difficult pitch, but that is to be expected in India. Moreover, the ball was flying everywhere during the Test match between Australia and South Africa that was played at the Gabba in November and December. The match was also completed in two days. The quick bowlers appeared to be highly dangerous. They might have really hurt someone. On that pitch, there was a danger to life and limb. I’m not sure who the match referee was or how many demerit points it received. But, I believe there should be some symmetry in the distribution of demerit points.