Cheteshwar Pujara, who recently announced his retirement from all formats of cricket, has voiced strong concerns over India’s approach of preparing extremely spin-friendly pitches at home. According to him, these so-called “rank turners” have done more harm than good in recent years. He pointed to India’s 0–3 defeat to New Zealand at home last year—an unprecedented series loss after over a decade of dominance—as proof that this tactic has backfired.
Pujara explained that on such pitches, batting becomes a matter of chance, as the ball behaves unpredictably, leaving even experienced players vulnerable. “A batter needs too much luck to score runs,” he said, adding that such conditions make it impossible to display skill and temperament, which are supposed to define Test cricket.
WTC Pressure and Short-Term Thinking
One of the main reasons behind India’s reliance on turning tracks, Pujara revealed, was the World Test Championship (WTC) points system. The team management and curators often prepared result-oriented surfaces in hopes of securing quick wins at home and staying on top of the WTC table. While this may have offered short-term gains, Pujara believes it undermined India’s long-term prospects. Matches ended in two or three days, robbing batters of the chance to build confidence and adapt to different conditions.
He stressed that this approach compromised India’s batting standards, as players became unused to spending long hours at the crease on testing but fair pitches. In contrast, other nations were focusing on more balanced wickets, preparing their players better for overseas challenges.
Call for Balanced, Sporting Pitches
Pujara urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to rethink its pitch strategy and adopt a more balanced approach. He argued that Test cricket should ideally last four to five days, giving both batters and bowlers equal opportunities to influence the game.
Sporting pitches, according to him, not only produce more entertaining contests but also ensure players develop the skills required to succeed in varied conditions. “We need pitches that allow matches to go into Day Four or Day Five,” he insisted, pointing out that this trend is now being followed globally.
By continuing to rely on rank turners, India risks falling behind in Test cricket, he warned. Pujara’s verdict makes it clear: while spin remains India’s strength, overdoing it has left the team vulnerable, and a more balanced approach is urgently needed for future success.
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