India is set to host Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting on February 9 in Nagpur. The four-match Test series between the two teams has sparked debate over the type of pitches to be used during the series.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has weighed in on the matter, expressing his desire for the ball to turn from the very first day of the series. “If you lose the toss, so be it. You want to see the ball turning a bit. Or is something there for the bowlers on offer from Day 1. It’s your strength. You’re playing at home. Capitalise on it,” Shastri stated in an interview with Star Sports.
Shastri also emphasized that curators, not players, coaches, or managers, should have the final say in what kind of wickets are produced. “I believe no one other than the curator should have a say on what wickets are produced. I don’t think it should be up to the players, the manager, the coach, anybody! You just produce a good pitch,” he added.
The former Indian cricketer also acknowledged the significance of the India versus Australia rivalry, calling it one of the biggest rivalries in cricket. “No question. It’s not just the cricket on the field. The buzz that an India-Australia series creates is second to none in world cricket,” he said. “For India to step up and play them at their own game speaks volumes for the way the Indian players have performed over the last few years.”
With India having won the previous three editions of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the upcoming series promises to be an exciting showdown between two of the world’s top cricket teams.
