Indian captain says pitches in his nation are unfairly criticised after the match in Cape City ends in document time.

India’s cricket captain Rohit Sharma has lashed out at critics of Indian pitches after his facet recorded the quickest ever win in a Take a look at match by beating South Africa by seven wickets in four-and-a-half classes of the five-day match.

India’s win over hosts South Africa on a seaming floor with variable bounce at Newlands noticed them finish the two-match sequence in a 1-1 draw following the hosts’ win within the first Take a look at.

Chatting with reporters after the win at Cape City on Thursday, Rohit known as for a evaluate of how pitches are rated as he claimed India obtain undue criticism.

India’s victory made the Take a look at match the shortest ever in historical past when it comes to balls bowled in a win, after the guests set the tone once they bowled the house facet out for 55 earlier than lunch on day one, largely helped by participant of the match Mohammed Siraj, who took six wickets for 15 runs within the first innings.

The following better of any of Markram’s teammates in both innings was 15.

Rohit described the circumstances as harmful, however added he had no downside taking part in on such surfaces so long as it was accepted that Indian pitches will flip from day one.

“I don’t thoughts being on pitches like this so long as everybody retains their mouth shut in India and nobody is speaking in regards to the pitches there,” Rohit advised reporters.

“Sure it’s harmful, however you come right here (South Africa) to problem your self and it’s essential to resist it.”

Rohit believes there may be inconsistency in the best way match referees charge pitches in numerous international locations.

“In India, when it activates day one, folks say, ‘Oh, there’s a puff of mud’. We have to keep impartial, particularly match referees. I might like to see how the pitches are rated.

“I nonetheless can’t imagine the [Cricket] World Cup last pitch [in Ahmedabad] was rated under commonplace. A participant [Australia’s Travis Head] acquired 100 there. They need to charge pitches based mostly on what they see, not based mostly on international locations.”

Rohit added there needs to be no distinction within the score of a pitch based mostly on spin or seam on day one.

“We all know pitches in India will spin however folks don’t prefer it as a result of it turns from ball one. But when it seams from ball one, that’s OK? That isn’t truthful.”

A fiery Jasprit Bumrah conjured up his third five-wicket haul in Assessments in South Africa to assist India to a win 🔥#SAvIND #WTC25 pic.twitter.com/0cECYG0pCC

— ICC (@ICC) January 4, 2024

Low-scoring spectacle

In the meantime, South Africa’s stand-in captain Dean Elgar bowed out of Take a look at cricket on the dropping facet however mentioned he completed what had been a “little bit of a journey” with “wonderful recollections” as a global cricketer.

After 23 wickets fell on the primary day, the second morning changed into a battle between Aiden Markram and India’s Jasprit Bumrah.

Other than Markram, who hit 106 off 103 balls in South Africa’s second innings of 176, batsmen struggled all through the match on a pitch with tempo, seam motion and uneven bounce.

The Indian bowler took six for 61 – and was denied the wicket of Markram when the batsman, on 71, edged a drive and wicketkeeper KL Rahul couldn’t maintain a catch above his head.

Markram defied a pitch on which the following highest particular person rating was 46 by Virat Kohli in India’s first innings however South Africa have been bowled out for 176 runs of their second innings by lunch. That gave India a tough chase of 79 on a pitch of variable bounce.

Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a quickfire 28 off 23 balls, with six boundaries. He was caught at lengthy leg off Nandre Burger.

Rohit survived two dropped catches, and was unbeaten ultimately with 17 not out.

Kagiso Rabada bowled Shubman Gill for 10, and completed the quick sequence with 11 wickets.

Marco Jansen nicked off Virat Kohli for 12 runs when India have been 4 runs away from solely their fifth win on South African soil. 5 balls later, Shreyas Iyer hit a boundary to seal the historic victory.