“I wish we could curate pitches” – Abhishek Nayar issues clarification on Indian tracks ahead of IND vs NZ 2024 3rd Test

India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has said that the management doesn’t influence the curators to make a particular pitch. India is trailing by 2-0 in a three-match Test series against New Zealand and the pitches, which have been used in the first two games, have come under the scanner.

While the Bengaluru Test was played on a seam-friendly pitch, there was plenty of spin on offer in the second Test at Pune. India batters have failed to come up with a collective effort and it has led to the team’s downfall.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Nayar said, “I wish we could curate pitches, but we don’t. The curators do. Whatever we’re provided with, we go on and play (whether) that’d be a pitch that seamed or a pitch that turned. As cricketers and as a team, we try and play what we’re provided with. We don’t try and get conditions according to what we want.”

On the other hand, veteran Indian batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have failed to deliver the goods in the recent past. While Kohli returned with scores of 1 and 17 in the Pune Test, Rohit registered scores of 0 and 8. Nayar said they got to be patient with the veteran duo as they have all the experience in the game.

“Everyone’s worked really hard, everyone wants to do well, whether you’re Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma or even someone as young as Shubman Gill. The effort is there. The approach is great. I feel they’re putting in the hard yards. Sometimes, you’ve got to be a little patient, even with the greatest of players, and they can have tough times.

“I’m pretty sure sooner rather than later, we’ll have more to praise about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and everyone else as well,” Nayar added.

The third and final Test match between India and New Zealand will be played at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai from November 1 onwards.