Not a single Test in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 has seen Day 4. The impact of rank-turners is such that even Australia are playing three spinners in their lineup. The Indore Test pitch was spin-friendly to an extent that puff of dust came off it early in the first session and even hosts could not cope with it. It ended up being rated “poor” by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as the match ended within seven sessions. Ahead of Ahmedabad Test, former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar feels there is a major reason behind the preparation of dry pitches.
"Taking 20 wickets is not going to be easy in India. On a lot of Indian pitches, without your ace bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami and a slightly inexperienced Mohammed Siraj, I don't think that bowling attack is such (strong). But with a little bit of help from a dry pitch, India can probably take 20 wickets. I think that is the thinking behind preparing such pitches," Gavaskar told India Today.
Bumrah is set to miss the entire season of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. Also, he will be not be available for World Test Championship (WTC) final if Rohit Sharma-led India manage to qualify. Shami who was rested for the third Test is likely to return for the fourth Test which is a must-win clash for the hosts.
"For India to reach the World Test Championship Final, they did not have any other options (than producing turning tracks). If you would have had a strong attack, maybe you could have done something different but your strength is your spinners and therefore I think these pitches are being made. You do not want a flat pitch where the batters go out and dominate. These pitches are testing the temperament of the batters," Gavaskar added.
If India don’t win the final Test of the series which is scheduled to start on March 9, they will have to depend on result of Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand. If Sri Lanka manage to pull off a whitewash against the Kiwis, they will play Australia in WTC final.
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