The pitch in Hyderabad is expected to turn from day one.
The much-anticipated five-match Test series between India and England is all set to get underway on Thursday, January 25, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Considering the trend of pitches in the Indian subcontinent, the pitch in Hyderabad is expected to turn from day one. Ahead of the first Test, former Indian cricketer and cricket expert Aakash Chopra warned India against preparing rank-turners for the Test series against England.
Chopra said that India's obsession with pitches is not good, and even it already led them to lose the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final against Australia. He said that India should prepare such a pitch that will bring results, and it should not be like a road at all.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel: “The biggest question ahead of the series is should rank turners be made? I am saying and have been saying for a long time – you lost the World Cup final also due to your obsession with the pitch. Preparing a pitch favouring you cost you the finals.”
He added, “You might say this is a different format. It’s not about the format but the habit. You become complacent. Just give one instruction to the curator – make a pitch that yields a result. It shouldn’t be a road-like pitch.”
Notably, the curators in Ahmedabad had prepared a dry pitch for the 2023 World Cup Final, as Australia won the toss and opted to bowl first.
Contrary to expectations, the pitch improved in the second innings due to dew, and Australia easily chased down the target of 240 runs with six wickets in hand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad last November.