India captain Rohit Sharma has contrasting views as compared to Virat Kohli’s idea of five dedicated Test centres within the country. Sharma has claimed that restricting the game to big centres will hamper the growth of Test cricket. Notably, way back in 2017, Virat Kohli had suggested building five Test centres within the country and holding big series at those venues on a rotational basis. 

Kohli had opined that this will make the matches interesting as visiting will already know about the pitches and conditions they will be exposed to. "We've been discussing this for a long time now, and in my opinion we should have five Test centres, period," Kohli had said, after the conclusion of the Ranchi Test.

"I mean, I agree [with] state associations and rotation and giving games and all that, that is fine for T20 and one-day cricket, but Test cricket, teams coming to India should know, 'we're going to play at these five centres, these are the pitches we're going to expect, these are the kind of people that will come to watch, crowds',” the former India captain has opined. 

Now, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shifted the third Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2022-23 to Indore from Dharamshala, current India skipper Rohit Sharma was asked about his views on this matter. Sharma had a clear response ready. He said that if BCCI is looking to promote Test cricket it needs to hold games across the country. 

“If you want to promote Test cricket, it should be played in every part of the country and not restrict it to just a handful of big centres,” said Sharma. 

This opinion of Rohit triggered a debate on Twitter as fans started sharing their views on the matter. While many seemed convinced with what Kohli has to say, some also agreed with Rohit Sharma’s point of view. 

“Well Virat is absolutely right test centres should be 5 or 6, Good representable grounds. Promoting Test Cricket doesn’t means we should play in stadiums like Delhi. Being the richest board & still touring teams play in such grounds. Doesn’t do good to us or Cricket,” said one user. “Virat is correct here…The quality of the playing conditions does matter a lot in Tests & most other centres are more interested in white ball which ultimately ends up in empty stands !!!” wrote another. 

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India captain Rohit Sharma has contrasting views as compared to Virat Kohli’s idea of five dedicated Test centres within the country. Sharma has claimed that restricting the game to big centres will hamper the growth of Test cricket. Notably, way back in 2017, Virat Kohli had suggested building five Test centres within the country and holding big series at those venues on a rotational basis. 

Kohli had opined that this will make the matches interesting as visiting will already know about the pitches and conditions they will be exposed to. "We've been discussing this for a long time now, and in my opinion we should have five Test centres, period," Kohli had said, after the conclusion of the Ranchi Test.

"I mean, I agree [with] state associations and rotation and giving games and all that, that is fine for T20 and one-day cricket, but Test cricket, teams coming to India should know, 'we're going to play at these five centres, these are the pitches we're going to expect, these are the kind of people that will come to watch, crowds',” the former India captain has opined. 

Now, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shifted the third Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2022-23 to Indore from Dharamshala, current India skipper Rohit Sharma was asked about his views on this matter. Sharma had a clear response ready. He said that if BCCI is looking to promote Test cricket it needs to hold games across the country. 

“If you want to promote Test cricket, it should be played in every part of the country and not restrict it to just a handful of big centres,” said Sharma. 

This opinion of Rohit triggered a debate on Twitter as fans started sharing their views on the matter. While many seemed convinced with what Kohli has to say, some also agreed with Rohit Sharma’s point of view. 

“Well Virat is absolutely right test centres should be 5 or 6, Good representable grounds. Promoting Test Cricket doesn’t means we should play in stadiums like Delhi. Being the richest board & still touring teams play in such grounds. Doesn’t do good to us or Cricket,” said one user. “Virat is correct here…The quality of the playing conditions does matter a lot in Tests & most other centres are more interested in white ball which ultimately ends up in empty stands !!!” wrote another. 

Check out other reactions: