WTC Final Pitch: Would India Be Blamed For Such Conditions? First Sports With Rupha Ramani
WTC Final Pitch: Would India Be Blamed For Such Conditions? | First Sports With Rupha Ramani |N18G
WTC Final Pitch: Would India Be Blamed For Such Conditions? | First Sports With Rupha Ramani |N18G
The 2025 World Test Championship Final between South Africa and Australia has become a major talking point, not just for the cricket on display, but for the conditions under which it's being played. With the match heading towards a finish in under four days, questions are being raised about the pitch — or rather, the silence surrounding it. If the same conditions existed in India, there would have been global outrage, debates, and demands to ban venues. But because it's happening in England, cricket pundits have chosen silence. Rupa Ramani examines the glaring double standards in the cricketing world. Is India being held to a different standard when it comes to pitches?
See More
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
Yashasvi Jaiswal fifth Indian player to score century in first Test innings in England
Leeds [UK] June 20 (ANI): Indian star batter Yashasvi Jaiswal on Friday joined former Indian skipper, Saurav Ganguly (131 at Lord's, 1996), Vijay Manjrekar (133 at Leeds, 1952), Sandeep Patil (129* at Manchester, 1982) and Murali Vijay (146 at Nottingham, 2014) to score Test ton in their first Test innings on English soil. Jaiswal achieved this feat in his outing against England on Day 1 of the first test of the five-test match series on Friday at Leeds Headingley. This is also the start of the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for both nations. Among players who have played at least five Tests and scored at least 500 runs against England, Jaiswal has the highest average. In six Tests, he has scored 813 runs across 10 innings at an average of 90.33, with three centuries and fifties each. He is the seventh Indian batter to score a century at Headingley. This century of Jaiswal is fifth of his test career, and it is worth noting none of his five tons have come against Asian nations. Notably, he has slammed a century on his maiden Test outings in Australia, the West Indies and England. Three of his centuries have come against England, and one each against Australia and the West Indies. Jaiswal was dismissed by England skipper Ben Stokes right after Tea on Day 1 for 101 runs, his innings included 16 fours and a six. Earlier on Day 1, Jaiswal's commanding century, along with Indian skipper Shubman Gill's strong innings, powered India to 215/2 at the end of the second session on Day 1. Jaiswal and KL Rahul's impactful innings powered India to finish the first session of Day 1 of the first Test, on 92/2 at Headingley, Leeds. England broke the Indian opening partnership on the stroke of Lunch as KL Rahul narrowly missed out on his half-century. (ANI)
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
Rishabh Pant completes 3000 test runs; surpasses MS Dhoni to become Asia's most successful wicketkeeper-batter in SENA
Leeds [UK], June 21 (ANI): Rishabh Pant completed 3000 runs in test cricket on Thursday, surpassing former Indian skipper MS Dhoni as India's most successful wicketkeeper-batter. Pant achieved this feat in his outing against England on Friday at Leeds Headingley, Day 1 of the first test of the five-test match series. This is also the start of the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for both nations. Pant remained not out on 65 at the end of Day 1. He became Asia's most successful wicketkeeper-batter in the SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries, surpassing the legendary Dhoni. Pant now has 1746 runs in SENA in 27 matches at an average of 38.80; he also has four centuries and six fifties to his name. Earlier on Day 1, a composed century from debutant captain Shubman Gill, a fluent ton by Yashasvi Jaiswal, and a measured innings from vice-captain Rishabh Pant powered India to a dominant 359/3 at stumps on Day 1 of the first Test against England at Headingley on Friday. After Jaiswal set the tone with a sparkling 101 off 159 balls, featuring sixteen boundaries and a six, Gill took over with a captain's knock, showing maturity and poise throughout his unbeaten 127-run effort. The stylish right-hander struck sixteen fours and a maximum in his 175-ball stay, steering India to their highest-ever first-day total in a Test match on English soil. Pant supported his skipper brilliantly, remaining unbeaten on 65 from 102 deliveries. His innings was laced with six fours and two towering sixes, and he looked in full control alongside Gill in their unbroken 138-run partnership. Jaiswal and KL Rahul's impactful innings powered India to finish the first session of Day 1 of the first Test, on 92/2 at Headingley, Leeds. England broke the Indian opening partnership on the stroke of Lunch as KL Rahul narrowly missed out on his half-century. (ANI)
India Gazette
6 hours ago
- India Gazette
Temba Bavuma ruled out due to injury, Keshav Maharaj named South Africa captain for upcoming two-match Test series against Zimbabwe
New Delhi [India] June 20 (ANI): South Africa's ICC World Championship 2025 title-winning captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the upcoming two-match Test series against Zimbabwe due to a left hamstring strain, according to the ICC website. Proteas veteran spinner Keshav Maharaj will take over as the captain for the red-ball series starting from June 28. Bavuma sustained the injury during day three of the World Test Championship Final at Lord's while batting in the second innings. He continued to bat with pain and put on a fight with a well-made half century, stitching up a match-winning partnership with Aiden Markram. Bavuma is set to undergo further scans to assess the extent of the injury, while experienced Maharaj will lead the side, which consists of five uncapped players. This is the third hamstring injury Bavuma has suffered in less than two years. He was injured during the 2023 ODI World Cup and played the semi-final, and then again during the Boxing Day Test against India that year. He has also had a series of elbow injuries and plays with a heavily strapped left elbow. The Proteas had faced Zimbabwe in a warm-up fixture before taking on Australia for the Ultimate Test at the Home of Cricket, where they were crowned the Test champions. Proteas will take on Zimbabwe in the first Test on Saturday, 28 June, followed by the second Test from Sunday, 06 July, with both matches taking place at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo. South Africa's next assignments after Zimbabwe, which Bavuma could be part of, are ODIs against Australia in August and England in September. South Africa Test Squad against Zimbabwe Keshav Maharaj (c), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Kwena Maphaka, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi*, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Lesego Senokwane, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Verreynne and Codi Yusuf. (ANI)
