Getting to the pitch on top of Nagpur’s agenda

NAGPUR: Nagpur and the strip tease go hand in hand. No other venue, over the last decade or so, has seen the pitch being the focus point of a match before or after. In 2004, India got a track that was more ‘home’ for Australia. In 2015, despite all pitches for the four-match Test series offering turn, it was the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium that was termed poor by the ICC. The World T20 in 2016 saw Nagpur being one of the low-scoring grounds, with the hosts folding up for 79 against New Zealand. Even the previous T20 International at the venue saw India defend 144 against England.

As the city gears up to host  the fifth and final ODI between India and Australia on Sunday, the focus is firmly back on the pitch. Unlike other prominent centres, Nagpur’s VCA stadium in Jamtha has had to face its own share of problems — especially drought — the reason why it seems to have gotten slower over the last two years. As a result, the VCA has already relaid the playing surface with new soil after undergoing tests to ensure it doesn’t break under the heat. “We have newly laid everything including the square in March. We have changed the soil. The local soil here is good and has been duly tested. We had some local matches conducted which were averagely high-scoring. The bounce too will be consistent,” curator Pravin Hingnikar said on Saturday.

Though the newly-laid wicket has settled well with monsoon aiding a bit, it is unlikely to change the character substantially as the match progresses. Over the last two years, teams batting second have seen the pitch get slower considerably, but the new wicket is unlikely to be a complete belter like the one on which India chased 351 against Australia in 2013.

“It will be a good sporting wicket on Sunday. We are expecting runs. But it all depends on how the teams play. This stadium has been very good till 2015 and we are trying to bring back the lost glory,” he said.
With rain and showers so far being a regular theme of the series, Nagpur is unlikely to witness any such scenes, meaning a fast outfield. “There was hardly any dew when we checked on Friday. We will also use the anti-dew spray on Sunday if it is required,” Hingnikar added.