With India looking to end their New Zealand hoodoo in ICC events, a massive controversy struck the Cricket World Cup with a Western media report claiming that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made a last-minute change in the pitch for the semifinal contest between the two sides.
The BCCI is the governing body of the sport in the South Asian country and is hosting the World Cup on the International Cricket Council's (ICC) behalf.
Against this backdrop, a British newspaper alleged that the Indian cricket board instructed the ground staff to hold the India versus New Zealand semifinal on a used pitch instead of a new one, which is generally the norm for ICC knockout games.
However, Indian batting great Sunil Gavaskar criticized the report, stating that the entire controversy was unnecessary as the pitch was the same for both teams.
The BCCI is the governing body of the sport in the South Asian country and is hosting the World Cup on the International Cricket Council's (ICC) behalf.
Against this backdrop, a British newspaper alleged that the Indian cricket board instructed the ground staff to hold the India versus New Zealand semifinal on a used pitch instead of a new one, which is generally the norm for ICC knockout games.
However, Indian batting great Sunil Gavaskar criticized the report, stating that the entire controversy was unnecessary as the pitch was the same for both teams.
"All the morons who were talking about the pitch change. Just stop. Stop taking potshots at Indian cricket. People have said a lot of things to attract eyeballs or whatever. It is all nonsense. The pitch was there and even if it was changed, it was there before the toss for both the teams. It was not changed in the middle of the innings. It was not changed after the toss was done.," Gavaskar said in response to the report.
"If you are a good enough team, you play on that pitch and you win. India has done that. So stop talking about pitches. Already they are talking about Ahmedabad and the second semifinal hasn't even taken place. They are talking about the pitch being changed in Ahmedabad. Nonsense," the 1983 World Cup winner added.
Meanwhile, ex-England skipper Michael Vaughan had a different take on the matter.
"A World Cup semi should be played on a fresh pitch. It's as simple as that," Vaughan wrote on X.
Interestingly, New Zealand hasn't lodged an official complaint with the ICC over the issue.
Speaking about the semifinal contest between India and New Zealand, the Men in Blue are looking to beat the Kiwis for the first time in an ICC knockout game.
In the past, the New Zealanders have proved to be a thorn in the flesh of the Indians, having beaten them thrice in the semis and the finals of the ICC competitions.
Among the three losses was a 2019 World Cup defeat in England that left the Indian cricket team in tears because it turned out to be the last match of the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni's illustrious career.
Speaking about the semifinal contest between India and New Zealand, the Men in Blue are looking to beat the Kiwis for the first time in an ICC knockout game.
In the past, the New Zealanders have proved to be a thorn in the flesh of the Indians, having beaten them thrice in the semis and the finals of the ICC competitions.
Among the three losses was a 2019 World Cup defeat in England that left the Indian cricket team in tears because it turned out to be the last match of the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni's illustrious career.