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Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has expressed disappointment over India’s participation in a brief 2-match Test series against South Africa, labeling it as a “disservice to Test cricket.” As India embarks on the final leg of their South Africa tour with a Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park, Centurion, Chopra emphasizes the need to accord Test cricket the significance it deserves.
After securing a 2-1 victory in the ODI series and a 1-1 draw in the T20I series, Team India, led by Rohit Sharma in Tests, aims to clinch their first Test series win in South Africa. However, Aakash Chopra argues that a two-match series falls short of honoring the essence of Test cricket.
Chopra states, “Anything less than a three-match series is a disservice to Test cricket. All the talk about protecting Test cricket and being its guardian does not mean we are doing what’s necessary.” He contends that a two-Test series is merely fulfilling a minimum commitment and does not uphold the standards of Test cricket.
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Highlighting India’s customary five-match series with SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) nations, Chopra asserts that South Africa should not be treated differently. Expressing dissatisfaction with the scheduling of only two matches between India and South Africa in the upcoming World Test Championship cycle for 2023–2025, Chopra urges cricket boards to give Test cricket the status it deserves.
“You play five matches against Australia, you play five against England. South Africa is the third major side. But we are doing South Africa a disservice. We are doing a disservice to Test cricket by playing a two-match series. If you are saying Test cricket is supreme, then give it the status it deserves,” Chopra emphasized.
-IANS
