Ranchi: Though India registered a comfortable 202 runs win over South Africa on the fourth day of the third and final Test, and completed their first-ever whitewash over South Africa here at JSCA International Stadium Complex, captain Virat Kohli seemed to be unhappy with the low turnaround at the stands.
Hence, in the post-match press conference, Kohli demanded five dedicated Test centres in the country that would encourage people to come and watch the match at the stadium.
"In my opinion, we should have five strong Test centres. In Test cricket, teams coming into India should know that they are going to play at these five centres, these are the pitches and crowds to expect. It can't be sporadic and spread over so many places," Kohli said at the post-match press conference.
"I agree about state association, rotation, giving games and all of that. That is fine for T20 and ODI cricket.
"But when it comes to Test cricket, teams coming to India should know that they are playing at these five centres. So that becomes a challenge already when you are leaving their shores because when we go to any place, we know we are having four Test matches at these venues," he added.
Poor attendance at Pune and Ranchi
These comments from Kohli come after poor attendance of fans was witnessed during the course of the three Tests against South Africa at all the three venues in Visakhapatnam, Pune and Ranchi.
At Pune's Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium where India achieved a record 11th consecutive Test series wins at home, only a handful of spectators had turned to witness the historic feat.
And in Ranchi, the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) had managed to sell just 1,500 tickets before the start of the third India-South Africa game played at a stadium which has a capacity of 39,000.
