Rahul Dravid Slams Under-Prepared Ranji Wickets

Former India captain Rahul Dravid has slammed the nature of pitches being prepared in the Ranji Trophy, where "getting six to seven wickets by bowling darts" has become the order of the day and felt this would prove detrimental towards producing "good cricketers". ('Rahul Dravid Helping us Prepare Technically, Mentally')

Dravid made no bones about the fact that such pitches were a "waste of time, energy and money". (Cheteshwar Pujara Credits Rahul Dravid's Advice for Return to Form)

Five matches in the Ranji Trophy ending inside two days has certainly not impressed the India A and U-19 coach, who has been entrusted with the responsibility of guiding the next batch of talented cricketers. (Ranji Trophy: Delhi Draw vs Karnataka, Stay in Hunt for Quarter-Finals)

"We don't want green tops but also we don't want wickets where matches finish in two days and people who are bowling darts are getting six-seven wickets. I think we need to be very careful that we don't go down that path," said Dravid.

While the match between Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand saw 26 wickets fall in one day, Bengal skittled out Odisha for 37 on a strip which was termed dangerous by Odisha skipper Natraj Behera.

"Square turners, matches are finishing in two or three days. I really don't think its good for the health of Indian cricket. Because if you think about it, it's a waste of time, energy and money," he said.

"It's a little different at the international level since you are looking for wickets. But at least in the Ranji Trophy level we are looking to prepare players for the international stage. These wickets, what I have seen recently, is poor."

"It is disappointing. I don't want to specifically mention the Bengal game just because I happen to be here. But all around in the Ranji Trophy this year, the teams are producing in my opinion poor wickets. And if we keep playing on bad wickets like these, we are not going to develop and produce good cricketers. So I think we need to find a balance, we need to nip it in the bud. I am at least glad that the knock-out stage is at neutral venues," said Dravid, not mincing any words.

Dravid said that while a lot of people advocate for home venues in Ranji Trophy but preparing these kind of pitches only force BCCI to choose neutral venues for knock-out matches.

"A lot of people criticise and say Ranji Trophy should be at home venues but if teams are going to resort to doing these kind of things then I think its better Ranji Trophy is held at a neutral venues, at least in the knockout stage. We need to start forcing teams to start preparing good wickets."