India’s Test captain Rohit Sharma has suggested playing on a green pitch in the fourth and final Test against Australia in Ahmedabad. The aim is to prepare for the World Test Championship (WTC) final to be held at Lord’s from 18 to 23 June 2023. The first two Tests of the series have been played on heavily curated turning pitches in Nagpur and Delhi to favour India’s spinners. However, if India wins the third Test, they would confirm their place in the WTC final, and a green-top that favours fast bowlers in Ahmedabad would help them prepare for the final. Sharma revealed that the team had already discussed the possibility of a green pitch. India have prepared seamer-friendly home pitches in the past with an eye on preparing for major away tours. Sharma’s suggestion is in line with this practice.
India is currently 2-0 up in the four-Test series, and a win in the third Test would confirm their place in the WTC final. Australia is expected to play India in the final, but Sri Lanka has an outside chance.
Sharma’s suggestion comes after the team faced criticism for preparing rank turners for the first two Tests. The series has been seen as a battle between India’s spinners and Australia’s pacers. India has one of the best spin bowling attacks in the world, with Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin being the leading spinners in the series. However, the Australian fast bowlers have also been effective in the series. If India wins the third Test, it would be their first home series win against Australia in nine years.
India has prepared seamer-friendly pitches in the past to prepare for major away tours. In the 2017-18 season, before a tour of South Africa, India played on a greentop at Eden Gardens against Sri Lanka, and the seamers took 32 of the 35 wickets that fell in the Test match. However, selection could be a problem if India decides to go for a green pitch in Ahmedabad. Shardul Thakur, India’s preferred pace-bowling allrounder in overseas conditions, is not part of the squad for the series against Australia, and has not played competitive cricket in over a month. Sharma said that Thakur is an important part of their plan, and his selection would depend on his readiness, given that he has just got married.
The WTC final is set to be an exciting contest between two of the best Test teams in the world. Sharma has said that both teams will be playing on neutral grounds, and there would be no home advantage or conditions advantage. India has played a lot of cricket in England over the last few years, and Australia has also played a lot of cricket there. Therefore, it will not be an alien condition for both teams. The two teams will play their best cricket to win the trophy.
Before the fourth Test in Ahmedabad, India has a Test match to play in Indore. Rohit warned against letting their thoughts stray too far ahead. Although India won the second Test in Delhi by six wickets, they were made to work hard for their result, and at one stage, they were 139 for 7 in reply to Australia’s first-innings total of 263. Sharma expected Australia to push India hard again in Indore. A win in the third Test would confirm India’s place in the WTC final and give them the chance to prepare for the final by playing on a green pitch in Ahmedabad.
