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Dravid Gives 35k To Groundsmen After Criticising Kanpur Turf & Fans Call It Publicity Stunt


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Gone are the days when a Test match, no matter which part of the world you play in, used to end in a draw despite the match going on for all five days without any external interventions.

A lot of this changing trend has to do with the advent of fast-paced T20 cricket because players these days score runs at brisk pace irrespective of the format they are playing, including the longest format of the game.

So Near Yet So Far.

The first #INDvNZ Test in Kanpur ends in a draw. @Paytm #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/dGckU0uBjl

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 29, 2021

If we talk about India, normally we don’t often see a Test match ending without a clear winner even after five gruelling days of play. If we talk about the last home Test series against England, barring the opening match, none of the games lasted all five days. The last two matches in Ahmedabad ended well within three days.

That’s why it was heartening to see a pitch that produced a thrilling contest between bat and ball on all five days of the Kanpur Test match. As far as the Indian team is concerned they would have liked the surface to deteriorate just a wee bit more, allowing them to ask more questions of the Kiwis batters on the final day but apart from that there was no denying that it certainly was a neutral pitch that kept both batters and the bowlers in the game.

Ajinkya Rahane Rahul Dravid © Instagram Indian Cricket Team

Team India head coach Rahul Dravid had his own set of complaints with the surface but still he reportedly gave Rs 35,000 to the Green Park ground staff for preparing a “sporting pitch” that made for an exciting contest on all five days.

As per news agency PTI, this announcement was made by the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) in the press box after the match wherein all the journalists were told that the former India skipper had paid the amount from his personal pocket.

New Zealand survive and it's a DRAW in Kanpur.

Scorecard - https://t.co/WRsJCUhS2d #INDvNZ @Paytm pic.twitter.com/TDTrEcl9ec

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 29, 2021

“We would like to make an official announcement. Mr Rahul Dravid has paid Rs 35,000 personally to our groundsmen,” the UPCA announced in the press box after the game.

The batting legend said that he was delighted with the “great composure and fighting spirit” show by the Indian bowlers, who were able to to make a comeback after going wickteless in the morning session on what was “quite an unresponsive pitch” despite it being the fifth and the final day of the match.

Harbhajan Singh was a terrific bowler for India. What @ashwinravi99 has done to go past him is a phenomenal achievement: Head Coach Rahul Dravid.@Paytm #INDvNZ #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/SGh8UetSUY

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 29, 2021

"We showed great composure and fighting spirit and worked really hard in that final session. It was quite an unresponsive pitch on the fifth day and a really good effort to have taken eight wickets after lunch, three in that session and five in the last session,” Dravid said at the post-match press conference.

Speaking about the surface, Dravid said that it was “low and slow, didn’t have much bounce” and also “didn’t offer as much turn”, something we all have become accustomed to while playing in India.

Rahul Dravid © Twitter BCCI

“It was low and slow and probably didn't have that much bounce or didn't have a turn. Probably, you expect a little bit more wear and tear on the fifth day in Indian conditions over the course of five days. This didn't seem to have that kind of bite.

“Generally, in India on day five, spinners can challenge both edges -- inside and outside. You know you can beat people on the inside edge and get LBW. But honestly, in this game, the outside edge was virtually ruled out,” he explained his concern with the surface.

Kind Gesture Or Publicity Stunt?

The 48-year-old former India skipper’s gesture evoked mixed reactions on social media. While some praised the coach for appreciating all the hard work put in by the groundsmen, others couldn’t comprehend how he could call it a ‘sporting pitch’ and at the same time go on a rant highlighting all the flaws in the surface. That’s why many described his kind gesture as nothing but “a publicity stunt”.

Very Kind hearted, Respectable and Good personality Simple person Legend Rahul Dravid sir

— Abhi Ram (@AbhiRamaKrishn8) November 29, 2021

Brand ambassador of test cricket

— cricketaddict45 (@cricknut45) November 29, 2021

Well said.. Couldn't agree more..

— Ishan (@hungover116) November 29, 2021

Is this a publicity stunt or what? Why he doing this

— Sylesh (@karikalan_06) November 29, 2021

Dikhave k liye hai ye sb naatak

— ALIS ꪜ (@Alis_Navadiya_) November 29, 2021

Fake publicity

— சாரு காசன் (@Sk_4862) November 29, 2021

Before criticising the head coach, one must realise it’s Dravid we are talking about, who has always stayed away from such controversies all his life. The only reason why he gave away the amount from his own pocket was because he wanted to thank the groundsmen for all the efforts they put in during the course of the match.

Let's not forget that every single word that came out of his mouth during the post-match press conference regarding the pitch was from an Indian head coach’s perspective not a fan. That's why he pointed out things that he thought would have helped his bowlers win the match.


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