Ahmedabad: For the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Ahmedabad is likely to have a pace-sustaining grass pitch. The move is intended to familiarize the Indian players with playing on an oval-like pitch in the run-up to the World Test Championship final. According to reports, such a suggestion was put forward by hero Rohit Sharma himself.
Team India is yet to secure a ticket for the World Test Championship final. India will qualify for the final if they win one of the remaining two matches against Australia. The third Test which starts tomorrow in Indore is therefore crucial. Australia and Sri Lanka are the other two teams competing for the final spot. Rohit Sharma plans to make the fourth Test practice match in Ahmedabad as a win in Indore will secure the series against the Aussies and a berth in the final of the Test Championship. With the 2023 IPL season underway, India will have no red-ball matches before the final at The Oval. So, if they win the indoor test, a grass pitch similar to the oval might be set up in Ahmedabad.
‘Something different will definitely happen in Ahmedabad, pacer Shardul Thakur is in the big plans of the team’ – said Rohit Sharma before the indoor test. At the same time, Hitman says that the World Test Championship is not in mind and the focus is now on winning in Indore. ‘Both neutral teams will reach the finals as the hosts in England are certain not to qualify for the finals. This creates great excitement. Neither team has home advantage. India have played many matches in England in recent years. Aussies have also played a lot of matches there,” Rohit added.
The IPL season will end on May 28 only. The final of the World Test Championship will start on June 7 at The Oval. This is not the first time that a pitch with a green top has been prepared in India. In preparation for the 2017 tour to South Africa, Eden Gardens had a grass pitch against Lanka.
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Last Updated February 28, 2023, 7:34 PM IST
