Third Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy series moved out of Dharamshala

After hosting two T20I matches between India and Sri Lanka in February last year, the HPCA decided to install a new drainage system and relay the outfield.


Third Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy series moved out of Dharamshala

Dharamshala Stadium

The third test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, which was originally scheduled to take place in Dharamshala, in Himachal Pradesh, has been moved out of the venue. The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium is not fit to host matches as it recently underwent renovation.

ADVERTISEMENT

The new venue has not been decided, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has shortlisted some backup venues, the likes of Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, Pune, and Indore. The BCCI also carried out an inspection on February 3 and after another inspection, they came up with this decision. The official has confirmed that a small patch near the square is not ready yet.

After hosting two T20I matches between India and Sri Lanka in February last year, the HPCA decided to install a new drainage system and relay the outfield and the outfield is still not ready. The outfield is also sand-based and experts say, it needs a dense grass cover.

Those two were the last matches played at the venue. Also, the stadium has hosted just one Test match so far, in 2017 for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, where India beat Australia by 2-1. Also, the last first-class match played at the venue was just before the COVID-19 pandemic. The ground has also hosted 16 limited-overs matches.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related: How Team India can qualify for WTC final after an innings and 132-run win over Australia in 1st Test?

After the four Tests, the two teams will lock horns for ODIs

Dharamshala
IND vs AUS

Meanwhile, India won the first Test of the four-match Test series by an innings and 132 runs. The spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja outclassed the visitors and the match ended within three days. Australia could register just 91 runs in their second innings- their lowest score in India.

The second Test will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, beginning February 17. The third Test will be played from March 1-5. The last fixture will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

After the completion of the series, the two teams will lock horns in three ODI matches. These three matches will take place in Mumbai Wankhede Stadium, Visakhapatnam’s Dr YS Rajesekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, and Chenniai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium on March 17, 19, and 22 respectively.

ADVERTISEMENT

In case you missed:

“One of the privileges of playing International Cricket,” Indian Women’s Head Coach does not downplay the significance of Indo-Pak encounter at the T20I World Cup

Ravindra Jadeja found guilty of breaching ICC Code of Conduct