Sunil Gavaskar labelled the critics of the pitch for the 2023 World Cup semi-final between India and New Zealand as “morons”, saying that they should stop taking “potshots” at the home team.

The morning of the first World Cup semi-final was beset by controversy after reports emerged that the pitch that would be used for the game had been changed to favour India’s spinners. According to the Daily Mail, the semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai was initially scheduled to be played on a fresh wicket but was switched to a used pitch that had previously hosted two games in the tournament. The change, reportedly, was made without “forewarning” to Andy Atkinson, the ICC pitch consultant.

Following the swap, the track was expected to be on the slower side, but it played to the contrary, with 724 runs scored across the two innings. With no dew as well, runs were in abundance, with a combined 30 sixes being hit in the game.

Gavaskar had plenty to say to people who had accused India of switching tracks for their benefit. Speaking on Star Sports after India’s win by 70 runs, Gavaskar said, “This has been such a good pitch to bat on. We’ve had nearly 730 runs scored here. All those morons who were talking about the pitch being changed and that it would do the Indian bowlers a favour, I hope they will just shut up. Stop taking potshots at India just because it helps you get eyeballs. Nonsense.

“Even if the pitch was changed, it was there before the toss for both the teams. It wasn’t changed in the mid-innings. It wasn’t changed after the toss was done. The pitch was the same for both teams. You are a good enough team, you play on that pitch and you win. And India has done that. So stop talking about pitches. Already they’re talking about the pitch in Ahmedabad [the venue for the final]. The second semi-final hasn’t even taken place, you’re talking about the pitch being changed in Ahmedabad. Nonsense.”

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