India and Bangladesh Face Off: Chennai Test Pitch Switches to Red Soil, Report Says

Sept. 18, 2024, 5:57 p.m.

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Over the last week or so, the ground staff at the MA Chidambaram Stadium have had a challenging time managing the red-soil pitch amid the scorching heat in the city. While the black-soil pitch is said to assist spinners, it’s the red-soil track that has been in focus ahead of India’s first Test against Bangladesh that starts from Thursday.

Why has the red-soil been used consistently?

According to a report in The Indian Express, when the Indian team arrived in Chennai for their pre-match camp last Thursday, pitch No. 4, designated for the Test, was covered in thick grass. The groundskeeping staff, led by curator C Ramesh Kumar, faced a significant challenge: ensuring a well-maintained bounce on the red-soil surface without favoring the Bangladesh spinners.

Advertisement Also read | Weather conditions and pitch expectations at the MA Chidambaram Stadium for the India vs Bangladesh 1st Test

India has opted for the red-soil surface because the team management desired a pitch that provides bounce, with the upcoming tour of Australia later this year in mind. In addition to Chennai, India will play on red-soil pitches in Mumbai and Pune, venues known for their bounce-friendly nature.

How the ground staff have maintained red-soil pitch in Chennai

The groundskeeping team diligently removed the grass, ensuring regular watering and multiple rolling sessions to prevent the pitch from crumbling under Chennai's scorching heat. The pitch is watered at least three times daily, between 9 am and 5 pm, according to the report.

Also read | An analysis of the Bangladesh team's strengths, and whether they have a chance of defeating India.

Ground staff are working hard to keep moisture levels in check using Hessian cloth and tarpaulin covers. With temperatures consistently exceeding 30 degrees Celsius in Chennai over the last four days, the ground staff have been facing challenging conditions.

India’s spin combination

The Indian Express report adds that India will continue playing their usual combination of three spinners in the first Test against Bangladesh. This leaves with the possibility of R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav starting. This also brings focus on India’s pace attack. In order to manage the players’ workload with the Australia series in sight, the team management could be tempted to rest Mohammed Siraj.

Advertisement However, that seems unlikely, especially now that the players have had a break of over a month, making workload concerns less pressing. While pace-bowling all-rounder Akash Deep is an option, India may decide to retain Siraj for the Test. Siraj and Akash participated in extensive batting sessions, but Akash had a more prominent role with the ball during net practice, possibly indicating a strategy to keep Siraj fresh for the match.

As far as batting is concerned, KL Rahul will take Sarfaraz Khan’s place in the playing XI, whereas Dhruv Jurel will make way for the returning Rishabh Pant.

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