The third Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy which is scheduled from March 1-5 could be shifted out of the scenic Dharamsala stadium as the ground is yet to match international standards after undergoing renovation recently.
Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) will take a final call upon inspection in the next few days. BCCI’s inspection team will include pitch curator which will decide whether the third Test will be hosted by Dharamsala or they need to prepare a different venue.
Apparently, the outfield is not yet ready after a new drainage system was installed. The delay in work is also due to recent rains and if the weather isn't sunny in coming days it will continue to hamper in the groundsmen's efforts to make it match-ready.
Even if the patches in outfield are repaired, the sword will still dangle at HPCA’s hosting rights for the third Test. Since the new pitch and outfield has been laid, the ground has not hosted a single match. Usually, it is a common practice before getting the ground ready for an international fixture.
Currently, HPCA is in a race against time with less than three weeks on to go in the Test. If Dharamsala is not fit for the third Test, Vizag (Visakahapatnam) can be one of the few options to host the India vs Australia clash.
Interestingly, the last Test Dharamsala hosted was an India vs Australia encounter. In 2017, Ajinkya Rahane led India in the absence of an injured Virat Kohli. Despite former skipper Steve Smith's century in first innings, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja's all-round display helped India win the match by eight wickets.
