IND AUS Pitch Report: WITH WTC Final on line, India to go with safe option in Ahmedabad Test after SPIN-Heavy Track backfires in Indore

IND AUS Pitch Report: India gears up to take on Australia in the fourth and final Test match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. The match is set to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, starting on March 9. However, this fourth Test match is particularly crucial for India as they are currently vying for a spot in the World Test Championship Final. To secure their place at WTC Final India will go with the safe option in Ahmedabad after the spin-heavy track backfires in the third Test match in Indore. Follow India vs Australia LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.

IND AUS Pitch Report: WITH WTC Final on line, India to go with safe option in Ahmedabad Test after SPIN-Heavy Track backfires in Indore, Follow INDIA vs AUSTRALIA LIVE Updates

Narendra Modi Stadium is set to host the fourth Test match between India and Australia. The pitch for all the previous three Test was a spin-friendly track that heavily favored the Indian spinners. However, the pitch for the third Test played in Indore, backfired on India. Australian bowlers exploited the surface and bowled out Men in Blue on 109 and 163 in both innings respectively.

GCA is unlikely to risk their reputation over this matter. Fourth Test draws close and is rather focused on preparing a normal track. A state association source said, “We haven’t received any instructions from the Indian team management and our local curators are preparing a normal track as we have always done through the season.”

Given the importance of this final Test match and the lessons learned from the previous match in Indore, the Indian team management may go with a safe pitch in Ahmedabad. It is expected to be more balanced, which would give both the batsmen and the bowlers a fair chance.

Ahmedabad Pitch Details:

The pitch is made up of Black soil
It will help spinners
Average first innings score is 338
2nd inning average score is 337
4th inning average score is 147

IND AUS Pitch Report: WITH WTC Final on line, India to go with safe option in Ahmedabad Test after SPIN-Heavy Track backfires in Indore, Follow INDIA vs AUSTRALIA LIVE Updates

On the other hand, Indian Captain Rohit Sharma made it clear that they won’t alter the formula for spin-heavy grounds. Instead, when the BCCI curators Taposh Chatterjee and Ashish Bhowmick take over, the remaining grass will be rolled over to make room for a rough black soil surface.

“Obviously, last few days, the BCCI’s grounds and pitches committee instruct the local curator. But certainly, from our end, our endeavour is to produce a good Test match pitch,” the official said.

Border Gavaskar Trophy has always been one of the most fiercely contested Test series in world cricket, and this year’s edition is no different. India and Australia have already played three grueling matches, with India winning two matches and Australia winning one.

WTC Final will feature the top two teams in the WTC standings, and India is currently in second place behind Australia. A win in this final Test match against Australia would secure India’s place in the WTC Final and give them a chance to compete for the coveted title.

India Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Srikar Bharat (wk), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, Ishan Kishan, Kuldeep Yadav, Suryakumar Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat

Australia Squad: Pat Cummins (C, Unlikely), Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Peter Handscomb, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Swepson, Matt Renshaw, Scott Boland, Lance Morris