Rahul Dravid unhappy with the pitches in India

Dravid is clearly not happy with the current ‘pitches’ in India

Former Indian captain Rahul Dravid slammed the quality of pitches that are dished out in this year's Ranji Trophy and said we need to be more careful because it’s not benefitting anyone, reports TOI.

He concentrated on the fact that Ranji is the place where we prepare players for the future and added the current pitches are "waste of time, energy and money."

Five matches in the round eight of Ranji season 2015-16 have ended in two days. India ‘A’ and Under-19 coach, Dravid who has always been critical about the game, is certainly not impressed with the pitches where bowlers are getting wickets easily.

Speaking about the nature of wickets in Ranji Trophy, Dravid said: “We don’t want green tops but also we don’t want wickets where match finishes in two days and people who are bowling darts are getting six-seven wickets. I think we need to be very careful that we don’t go down that path.”

Bengal outplayed Odisha in a rather one-sided affair and won the match by 133 runs. It took only two days for the Bengal team to defeat their neighbours, thanks to some brilliant bowling performance from Ashok Dinda who picked 7 wickets in the second innings to bowl out the opposition for just 37 runs.

In Ranchi, a match between Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand saw 26 wickets falling in a day. Jharkhand won by an innings and 71 runs as Himachal were bowled out twice on 133 runs score.

“Square turners, matches are finishing in two or three days. I really don’t think its good for the health of Indian cricket. Because if you think about it it’s a waste of time, energy and money,” the usually reticent Dravid, let everyone know his thoughts regarding the issue,” Dravid said.

He urged saying Ranji Trophy should be the place where cricketers prepare for international challenges, but he don’t see that happening.

“It’s a little different at the international level since you are looking for wickets. But at least in the Ranji Trophy level we are looking to prepare players for the international stage. These wickets, what I have seen recently, is poor,” he said.

The 42-year-old avoided speaking about the Bengal game where he was present at the venue in Kolkata.

“It is disappointing. I don’t want to specifically mention the Bengal game just because I happen to be here,” Dravid said. “But all around in the Ranji Trophy this year, the teams are producing in my opinion poor wickets.”

“And if we keep playing on bad wickets like these, we are not going to develop and produce good cricketers. So I think we need to find a balance, we need to nip it in the bud. I am at least glad that the knock-out stage is at neutral venues. At least, we will see good wickets at the knockout stages.”

Dravid concluded on the Ranji debate with the press by saying if teams are going to prepare home advantage pitches, then it’s better to play on the neutral venues.

“A lot of people criticise and say Ranji Trophy should be at home venues but if teams are going to resort to doing these kind of things then I think its better Ranji Trophy is in neutral venues, at least in the knockout stage. We need to start forcing teams to start preparing good wickets.”

The Indian team is currently playing against the World number one, South Africa team at home. The visitors are finding it really difficult and having a horrible time in Test series where their batting line-up is falling like a house of cards.

The Proteas are rattled by the Indian spinners who are not letting any of their batsmen breathe on the 22-yard pitch. Many from the cricket fraternity around the world have accused the Indian team for making extra rank-turner pitches.

Dravid’s critical view should be taken as something important to look forward to as he has made a point by saying that these pitches will not help anyone.