The Indian cricket team’s recent triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup has overshadowed the controversy surrounding the pitch used in the 2023 ODI World Cup final. However, former India star Mohammad Kaif’s allegations that the pitch was deliberately made slow have reignited the debate.
Kaif claimed that Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid inspected the pitch for three days before the final and requested a slow track to counter Australia’s pace attack. Former batting coach Viram Rathour, who was present for both the T20 and ODI World Cups, has now refuted these allegations.
Rathour insists that the pitch was similar to those used in previous matches and that it eased out as the day progressed. He also dismissed the notion that curators operate independently of team influence.
“When you are moving around the pitch, you have to say just two lines – please don’t put water, just reduce the grass. This happens. That is truth. And it should be done. You are playing at home,” Kaif had said.
Rathour’s comments contradict Kaif’s claims and suggest that the pitch was not deliberately altered to favor India. However, the controversy highlights the ongoing debate about the role of pitch preparation in international cricket.
