IND v SL 2022: Bengaluru pitch for India-Sri Lanka D/N Test gets one demerit point from ICC

The report was submitted by ICC match referee Javagal Srinath.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has delivered its verdict on the pitch at Chinnaswamy Stadium used for the pink-ball Test between India and Sri Lanka. The match saw India winning the Test by 238 runs and series 2-0 under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, who made his leadership debut.

The match referee Javagal Srinath submitted a report to the ICC after which the M Chinnaswamy Stadium was handed a demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.

In the report, Srinath said: “The pitch offered a lot of turn on the first day itself and though it improved with every session, in my view, it was not an even contest between bat and ball.”

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As per the revised ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, venues whose pitches are rated below average by match referees receive one demerit point, while three and five demerit points are awarded to venues whose pitches are marked as poor and unfit respectively.

Demerit points remain active for a rolling five-year period and if it accumulates five demerit points or more, it is suspended from hosting any international cricket for a period of 12 months.

The second Test between India and Sri Lanka in Bengaluru was played with the pink ball and saw a total of 16 wickets falling on the opening day, nine of which were picked up by the spinners. At the end of the day, Sri Lanka was 86/6 after bowling India out for 252.

Sri Lanka was bundled out for 109 on day two and was then set a target of 447 to chase. Captain Dimuth Karunaratne made a valiant ton, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 208, losing the match by 238 runs.

(ICC inputs)