The Third Test match between India and South Africa has been in a hurry for both the teams to finish the match within three days. As the Kanpur stadium pitch very supportive for the spin bowlers and the way the ball turning on the pitch was unexpected. Thus, many of the viewers and the cricket fans are questioning that the pitch was not set properly and was inconvenient for the bowlers to bowl.

Indian spin bowler Ravichandran Ashwin talking in a press meet was not pleased with the attention given to the nature of the pitch. Ashwin replied when Ashes Test in Tent Bridge ended in just two days and so why now. “I did not complain after Johannesburg (Test). I was dropped for a year after that. And, I am not going to complain playing here. There’s no reason why I should have complaints. Swing, seam and bounce for two days at Trent Bridge (referring to Ashes)- match over. I don’t know what that’s about,” Ashwin said.

“What is the problem about spin and bounce? It is good to have even spin and bounce, isn’t it? It’s about skills for batsmen to play and counter it. Fortunately or unfortunately, I don’t have the rights over the groundsman, to say what kind of pitch he needs to prepare. Once that’s done, it is my job to go out and play,” said Ashwin. He also asked The talks about the pitch are getting out of hand. That’s straight from my heart, you can beg to differ with me. There are enough good cricketers from both sides that you can talk about.

“To top it off, this morning the first four balls that I bowled, it pretty much swung the game in our direction. It was copied book stuff. From then on, it was catch-up game for them,” said Dean Elgar. Ashwin said that “the pitch was getting slower by the day and patience was the key for a bowler to dismiss a batsman.” When asked about South African opener Stiaan van Zyl and their off-spinner Simon Harmer, “He has changed the stance two or three times during the series, taking middle stump stance, standing outside leg stump in this innings.

He has looked to hit me inside out. Every time I see a plan, I try and adjust to it. Thankfully enough I have been able to do it.” Ashwin said that mentally the Proteas have lost the battle. Ashwin said that he is happy that Hashim Amla walked after being caught by Rahane in the first innings without waiting for the umpire’s decision. “I’m very pleased about it,” Ashwin concluded.