SA vs IND: Aakash Chopra criticizes the Cape Town pitch for 2nd Test

Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has questioned the Cape Town pitch as 23 wickets fell on the very first day of the game. South Africa were bowled out for 55 after they opted to bat first in the second Test against India on Wednesday, January 3. India were then bowled out for 153 before the Proteas ended Day 1 at 62/3 in their second innings as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra questioned: “23 wickets fell in a day. South Africa won the toss and decided to bat first, but what sort of decision? India too wanted to bat first but they (South Africa) couldn’t score even 60 runs in the first innings and they are still behind. South Africa have lost 13 wickets and we also lost 10. Is the pitch bad? Should we talk about the pitch because no one does that? There is an outcry if the ball turns in India and 20 wickets fall in a day. The Western media says that India keep winning on doctored pitches but if the same thing happens in South Africa, will anyone say anything or will they be tight-lipped?”

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However, 23 wickets that fell in Cape Town are the second most on the first day of a Test match as well. It also equalled the venue record for the most wickets on a single day whereas the previous one was on Day 2 of the 2011 Test between South Africa and Australia. Aakash Chopra also compared the Cape Town pitch to the Ahmedabad surface used for the 2021 pink-ball Test between India and England as well.

“The pitch has a lot of help. If the ball is turning as much as you are trying to get it to turn, it’s alright. However, if you are bowling straight balls and they pitch and turn, and some go straight, as it happened in the pink-ball Test in Ahmedabad, suddenly batting becomes very difficult,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “Then luck becomes very important. The pitch here is also looking similar. Luck is outshining skill. It’s not right to play on such pitches. The game should be based on skills and not luck-based. I see it as a two-day Test match. I will be very surprised if this match goes to the third day.”