Sunil Gavaskar, Saurashtra Cricket Association in War of Words Over Doctored Pitches

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar is critical of Saurashtra's home pitches, which are producing two-day results in the ongoing Ranji season with left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja spinning a web on the opposition teams. (Why Ravindra Jadeja Deserves a Test Recall)

"We have just had a case where Saurashtra has won three of its Ranji Trophy matches in two days with Ravindra Jadeja opening the bowling. He is turning the ball square," he said. (Ravindra Jadeja Returns to Test Squad)

Gavaskar had gone on to say, "As soon as a team scores 600 or 700 an inspector should be sent to the ground and he should be asked to make a report. And if he gives a negative report, which in Indian cricket... then action needs to be taken... I think the best way would be to deduct points. That will ensure not too many doctored pitches are made in domestic cricket".

However, Gavaskar's statement has come in for some sharp criticism from Niranjan Shah, the honorary secretary of the Saurashtra Cricket Association, who has labelled these comments as "irresponsible."

"I respect him for whatever he has achieved in cricket but that doesn't give him the liberty to say whatever he wants. I strongly object to whatever he has said and also condemn his irresponsible comments," Shah said while speaking to the Times of India. How can he call it 'doctored pitches' when more than 250-300 runs were scored everyday? One team scores 300 plus and the other team is bowled out for 60 and 90 ­ is this what happens on a doctored pitch?"

Jadeja has been in amazing form in the Ranji Trophy, having picked up 37 wickets in just three games at an outstanding average of just nine. He has taken six straight five-wicket hauls and this red-hot streak has resulted in Jadeja getting a call-up into the Indian Test team after a gap of one year. (Don't Blame Wicket for Wankhede Rout: Sunil Gavaskar)

The Saurashtra allrounder might get a chance to feature in his first home Test since 2013 and doubts remain whether he can repeat his Ranji Trophy heroics on the national stage. With tracks expected to be spin-friendly, Test skipper Virat Kohli will be hoping that Jadeja comes up with an improved bowling performance. (Ravi Shastri Crossed the Line in Abusing Wankhede Pitch Curator Sudhir Naik: Sanjay Manjrekar)

Amid the controversy over Team Director Ravi Shastri's alleged verbal duel with the Wankhede curator, Gavaskar said there is bound to be frustration when a home team does not get the desired pitch.

"What's wrong in the pitches suiting home teams? And when you do not get pitches to your liking there is bound to be frustration and sarcastic remarks may fly. But you should have control over your language. When there is disappointment there are words spoken that you regret later.While Ravi has denied using abusive language, but Sudhir said that he did so it's one person's version versus the other," Gavaskar told NDTV.

"It should also be found out that what did the Mumbai Cricket Association tell the curator. The team management can tell the state board how it wants the pitch and then it is conveyed to the curator, that's how it works. And it's not the first time that the team hasn't got it's pitch. That's part of life, you lose a game, move on," he added.

Though the batting legend said that the loss had nothing to do with the pitch, "No, I don't think the pitch was a factor for the big loss. I think it was ordinary bowling (by India) and superlative batting by the South Africans."