Legendary off-spinner backed Virat Kohli's old call for the introduction of standard Test centres for home Tests. He reckons that one needs to consider factors such as familiarity for players apart from crowds filling up stadiums, while allotting matches in India.
Ashwin explains the importance of Test centres
Ashwin said that playing on the best pitches should be a must when picking Test match venues in India. He added that the home team should take full advantage of familiar conditions by playing on pitches they know well.
“Test centres is not about crowds alone. It is also about familiarity of conditions. If we are playing a Test in Guwahati or Ranchi, I am not against these venues as a possibility. But the problem in India is every surface has a different identity. There is literally no bounce in the Eastern part of the country. It becomes a very ordinary Test match pitch then.”
“Make sure whichever Test centre you decide has the best pitches. Some venues are better than others only because the pitches are better and the team is used to conditions. That is home advantage. Otherwise the only point is you are playing within that Indian map as home, but is not home,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel “Ash ki Baat”.
Ashwin recalled Virat Kohli's old suggestion
Ashwin agreed with former India captain Virat Kohli's suggestion from a few years ago where he had called for the introduction of five permanent centres for Test cricket in India.
“Eden Gardens, Guwahati – playing against South Africa there, should there be standard Test centres? Virat said years ago they must be fixed. I personally think it’s about time, why did we make Test centres? So more cricketers could emerge, and their associations would get more funding. But Guwahati as a Test match is not a home game for either team, and I don’t think anyone in the Indian team has played a first-class game in Guwahati,” added Ashwin.
Notably, India recently played a two-Test match series against West Indies, and head coach Gautam Gambhir criticised Kotla's pitch for being batting-friendly.