IND vs AUS 2022-23, 3rd Test: 'Was our call to play on pitches like these' - Rohit Sharma after 9-wicket loss

Rohit Sharma has had enough of the ongoing talk about the pitches in India. He maintains that turning tracks remain the team's strength and wants the struggling batters to find a way to score on them. Shortly after India's nine-wicket thrashing at the hands of Australia on a pitch that turned square from the first hour, Rohit strongly indicated that another turner awaits both teams in the final Test in Ahmedabad from March 9.

His logic to play on spinning wickets is simple. The team has won 15 straight series at home and remains favourites to win the ongoing one, having already retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy. "Before every series, we usually decide what pitches to play on. It was our call to play on pitches like these. We are not putting pressure on the batters. When we win, all seems well. We are not asked about our batting," he said.

"It is talked about when we lose. We have decided to play on pitches like these, and we know we can be challenged, but we are ready for that. "Honestly, the pitch talk is getting too much. Every time we play in India focus is only on the pitch. We focus too much on the pitch in India. I don't think that is necessary," said the India skipper.

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'Former players have not played on these pitches'
The surfaces in Nagpur and Delhi also attracted attention, but the one in Indore copped the most flak. The ball turned viciously in the first half hour, and uneven bounce made the task more demanding for the batters. Dilip Vengsarkar, Matthew Hayden and Mark Waugh were among the former cricketers who thought the pitch was terrible for Test cricket. For the third straight time, the match ended within three days.

"Former cricketers, I don't think they played on pitches like these. I don't know, honestly. As I said, we want to play on this kind of pitch. It is our strength. So, when playing at home, you always play to your strength and do not worry about what people talk about," explained Rohit.

"Our strength is spin bowling and batting depth. Other teams use home advantage when we travel overseas. What is wrong with that? Especially when we are getting the results. If we were not getting the results, I would think otherwise. We are getting the results. Some batters are under pressure, but that is okay. You can't have all members of your team in good form. Few will go through a rough patch, but that is okay," added Rohit, who staunchly defended the team's tactics.

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'Matches not lasting five days outside India as well'
Former players have also argued that games not lasting five days are unsuitable for Test cricket at the age of Twenty20 (T20), but Rohit feels results matter more than the duration of matches. "What can I say about that? People have to play well for the game to last five days," he said when asked about games finishing early.

"Games are not lasting for five days outside India as well. Yesterday the game got over in three days in South Africa. It is about skills. People have to adapt to their skills. If pitches are helping the bowlers, the batters need to try and test their skills. It is not always about ensuring we are playing on flat pitches and results don't come your way. Pakistan, there were Test matches there, and people said it was boring. We are making it interesting for you guys," he said.

The India skipper hinted that the team might simulate conditions in Ahmedabad, considering the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final, but the loss will likely change their plans. India could only manage 109 and 163 in both innings, and Rohit said the batters must raise their game. "Honesty, the innings did not go as we would have liked. Even in the first innings, there was not a lot happening. If you look at the dismissals, we played poorly. Out of the ten wickets, maybe one or two where the pitch did help the bowler," he considered.

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"Other than that, it was the skill of the bowlers who outfoxed the batsman. We played poor shots as well. The way Australia played, they got out for 197. Had they not collapsed, they could have gotten to 250-75, which would have been a perfect score on a pitch like that," continued Rohit.

"Lack of concentration is what I would put it to. Apply yourself, bat for as long as possible, and take odd chances in the middle. Do not let the bowler bowl six balls in the same spot, and try to do something different. We did not do that in both innings," he articulated.

'Learn from Pujara and Iyer'
He said there was much to learn from Cheteshwar Pujara and Shreyas Iyer, who batted in contrasting styles to take the team past 150 in the second innings. Pujara mixed caution with aggression while Iyer unsettled the Australian spinners by going for an all-out attack.

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"When you are playing on pitches like these, you have to play the innings that Iyer played. Someone has to step out. Someone has to take on the bowlers. It can only be sometimes that batters will get a big knock... you have to play cameos like that," illustrated Rohit.

"On the other hand, you have a Pujara. Pujara being Pujara. He likes to spend time in the middle. He wants to grind it out. That is his way of doing it. It doesn't have to be the same way for everyone. That is what we have spoken about. Find your methods [to score], whether 11 or number one. We are happy as a unit as long as the job gets done. The runs will not come from everyone," was a stern message from Rohit to his fellow batters.

In the end, he praised Nathan Lyon, who took a match-winning eight-wicket haul in the second innings, saying he is the best overseas spinner he has faced. "Lyon should be at the top. I have yet to play guys like Murali and Warner. Among the current crop, he would be my number one overseas bowler to come and play here in India. He has got so much consistency in his line and length. When someone is bowling with that accuracy, you have to try and do something different to score runs," Rohit concluded.

(With inputs from PTI)