What type of pitch is being prepared at Narendra Modi Stadium for Ahmedabad Test? Did India ask for a green top?
A state association source rubbished such rumors and claimed that they haven't received any instructions from the Indian team management yet.
Follow Us
IND vs AUS 4th Test will be played in Ahmedabad
Since its renovation, Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, cricket’s largest stadium in the world, has hosted just two Test matches, both against England in 2021. Interestingly, there too the spinners became the most successful as Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel ran through the English batting line-up to bundle out the visitors for 112 and 81 in the third Test.
The most shocking thing was that even Joe Root, who is a part-time spinner, scalped five wickets for eight runs. Spinners shared 35 amongst them from the 40 wickets. That match was wrapped in within two days with India winning by 10 wickets.
But as per rumors, India skipper Rohit Sharma had asked the curators in Ahmedabad stadium to prepare a green top that will provide support to the pacers. But a state association source rubbished such rumors and claimed that they haven’t received any instructions from the Indian team management yet.
“We haven’t received any instructions from the Indian team management and our local curators are preparing a normal track, as we have always done through the season,” the state association source told PTI. “Obviously, (over the ) last few days the BCCI’s grounds and pitches committee instruct the local curator…but, certainly, from our end, our endeavor is to produce a good Test match pitch,” the source added.
It is yet to be seen what sort of pitch is being prepared in Ahmedabad. “We are going to go for a sporting wicket for this Test. On the central square, we have both types of pitches- black and red (soils). It will soon be decided on which type of track the Test will be played,” a Gujarat Cricket Association source told the Indian Express.
Related: WATCH: “Hollywood style debut,” America’s Tara Norris becomes first player to take fifer in WPL 2023
Indian PM Narendra Modi and Australian PM Anthony Albanese are to be in attendance for first day of Ahmedabad Test
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be visiting the stadium on Day 1 to participate in an opening ceremony and are expected to watch the first hour of play. Reports claim that about 85,000 seats for Day 1 are reserved for families and students for Modi’s visit.
At the same time to follow the security protocol, a large part of the stadium will be empty. Around 100,000 people are expected to storm into the stadium. But as Modi and Albanese will be leaving early, those 85,000 people are also expected to leave the stadium.
The fourth Test in Ahmedabad gets underway on March 9. India have retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1 are will eye another victory to clinch the series as well as secure a place in the World Test Championship final.
In case you missed:
“He was the best batter but as a captain…,” Shoaib Akhtar compares Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli
Stay Updated!
Gouri Das
(4697 Articles Published)