India lost the third Test in Indore on a rank turner.
The surfaces for the first two Tests in Nagpur and Delhi drew criticism but the one for the third Test in Indore copped the most flak.
The ball was turning viciously in the first half hour and uneven bounce made the job tougher for the batters. As it turned out, the Indore Test got over in just two days and a session with Australia defeating India by nine wickets.
Speaking on the same line, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar said India’s bowling line-up looks weak and doesn’t have the ability to pick 20 wickets. Hence, the hosts are preparing turning pitches as it will allow the spinners to dictate terms straightaway.
"Taking 20 wickets is not going to be easy in India. On a lot of Indian pitches, without your ace bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami and a slightly inexperienced Mohammed Siraj, I don't think that bowling attack is such (strong). But with a little bit of help from a dry pitch, India can probably take 20 wickets. I think that is the thinking behind preparing such pitches," Gavaskar told India Today.
Jasprit Bumrah picked up a stress fracture on his lower back prior to the Asia Cup last year. On his return in the home T20Is against Australia in September 2022, the Indian pace spearhead went down again with the same injury, which ruled him out of the T20 World Cup in Australia.
Bumrah was included in India’s squad for the ODI series against Sri Lanka in January this year but the recurring back injury forced him to remain out of action. Recently, it was reported that Bumran will miss the entire IPL 2023 season and will not be available for the World Test Championship final (if India qualify).
On the other hand, Mohammad Shami, who played the first two Tests against Australia, was rested for the third game in Indore as part of the workload management. However, reports suggest that Shami will return to India’s playing XI for the fourth and final Test.
"For India to reach the World Test Championship Final, they did not have any other options (than producing turning tracks). If you would have had a strong attack, maybe you could have done something different but your strength is your spinners and therefore I think these pitches are being made. You do not want a flat pitch where the batters go out and dominate. These pitches are testing the temperament of the batters," Gavaskar added.
Despite the loss in Indore Test, India lead the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1 but they have to win the final game to reach the WTC final.
The fourth Test is due to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad from March 9.