IND vs ENG: Sunil Gavaskar quotes Rohit Sharma to fire shots at 'Old Powers' England and Australia

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IND vs ENG: Weeks before the start of the first Test match between India and England from January 25, batting great Sunil Gavaskar has criticised 'Old Powers' for purposefully raising questions on Indian pitches.

The comments from Sunil Gavaskar comes after India's win against South Africa in the second Test under five sessions. The game lasted 642 balls and recorded itself as the shortest-ever Test match in history.

As many as 23 wickets fell on the very first day as South Africa were bundled out for 55. Post India's historic seven-wicket win in the match, captain Rohit Sharma asserted that India was comfortable playing on seam-friendly pitches until and unless there is no cribbing over turning tracks in India.

Sunil Gavaskar had backed Rohit Sharma, and has also hit back at 'Old Powers' England and Australia. He said Indian pitches are put under focus and criticised by the 'Old Powers' to get back at India and appease fans at home.

Putting his weight firmly behind the Indian captain, Gavaskar said Rohit was "spot on". "The Indian skipper Rohit Sharma was spot on when he said after the quick finish in the second Test that he doesn’t mind playing on pitches like the one dished out there as it’s a challenge to play on surfaces different from home," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day.

"He (Rohit) also said that please don’t start questioning the pitch when the ball starts turning on Day One in India. Of course, he is asking for the impossible because as we have seen ever since India became a power in the sport and rightfully began to assert itself in the ICC boardrooms, there has been a concerted effort to denigrate it by those from the Old Powers. They arrive with an agenda and come what may, will dish out stories for getting the brownie points at home," Gavaskar said.

England struggled big time in their last Test tour of India. After winning the first Test, the visitors lost the series 3-1. Once they lost the second Test match in Chennai, they started questioning the nature of surfaces in India. A few former England cricketers even alleged that it was a deliberate attempt of the Indian side to make sure England were unable to compete.

India won the third Test in Ahmedabad inside two days by 10 wickets. The fourth Test lasted four days as India won by an innings and 25 runs.