The report card for the Indian pitches used during the IND vs BAN and IND vs NZ Tests is finally out, and in a major surprise, the Kanpur outfield has been rated “unsatisfactory” by ICC match referee Jeff Crowe. Meanwhile, the wicket used in Chennai for the Bangladesh Test has been rated “very good”, where India beat the visitors in September, by 280 runs.
All the three wickets used for the NZ Tests, that India lost 0-3, managed only a “satisfactory” rating. It must be reminded to all, that the spinning tracks used in the series, faced heavy criticism from all the experts, and ex-players in the country.
IND vs BAN, Kanpur Test
Even though the Indian team managed to force a result in the match, but two full days were lost due to incessant rains in Kanpur. The poor drainage system at the stadium meant, crucial time and overs were missed in the match. If that is not enough, all the wickets used for the Bangladesh T20Is also garnered “very good” rating.
IND vs NZ Debacle
The only reason that, it seems, the three venues during the series escaped with “satisfactory” rating was, there were a few decent batting performances by the Kiwi batsmen. In the Bengaluru Test, Rachin Ravindra smashed 134. It was the same match where India were skittled for 46, and then managed to score over 400 in the second innings. Sarfaraz Khan had managed to score a 150 there.
Come the third Test, Will Young smashed two fifties, and similar was the case with Rishabh Pant, but largely, the batsmen were under the pump. In fact, throughout the three Tests, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli suffered the most, and averaged 10 and 13, respectively against the spinners.
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