Virat-Kohli

Picture Credit: Twitter/@_masterofchase_

Ahead of the final Test match against England at Ahmedabad, India skipper Virat Kohli stated that there has been too much noise about spinning tracks in the ongoing series. He asked the Indian media to present the view that spinning tracks are fine on the subcontinent. Earlier, players like R Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma had also said that when India travels around the world, they are welcomed by a wicket which assists seamers but as soon as India prepare a turning track it becomes a matter of contention.

It was a case of skill on display rather than pitch being a bad one at Pink-ball Test

Virat also announced his surprise at the emphasis that is being given to the pitch or ball. After India had won the pink-ball Test inside two days, some said that it was a bad advertisement for Test cricket while others attributed the result to the skiddy nature of pink-ball. Responding to the same, Virat Kohli, who recently reached the 100 million followers mark on Instagram, maintained that it was a case of poor batting by both the teams rather than the pitch being a bad one. Notably, the 32-year-old had made a similar statement at the post-match press conference as India defeated England by 10 wickets to go 2-1 up in the series.

"No clue why the focus is so much on the ball or the pitch. Neither sides batsmen were good enough to tackle the pitch in 3rd Test. I maintain it was a case of the skill on display rather than the pitch being a bad one."

Our strength is we focus on ourselves and not the pitch, added Virat

Virat stressed on India's strength being their focus on their own game irrespective of the conditions. Recalling the New Zealand tour, Kohli said that India had lost the Test inside 3 days but nobody had uttered a word about the pitch and neither did the team complain. "We need to be honest with ourselves about this narrative (of spinning tracks)," he said.

India currently lead the Test series 2-1 and need either a draw or a win in the final Test to reach the finals of the ICC World Test Championship scheduled to be played at Lord's later this year.