Even before a ball was bowled in the 2023 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the talks of ‘doctored pitches’ grabbed the headlines.

The ground staff at VCA stadium in Nagpur was seen preparing the pitch for the first Test with some selective watering, leading to Australian media accusing the hosts of doctoring the surface to trouble the touring team’s left-handed batters.

Similar allegations were made after Australia’s first innings folded for a paltry 177 on Day 1 of the opening Test at VCA Stadium in Nagpur. No Aussie batter managed to hit a half-century as India’s spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja (5/47) and R Ashwin (3/42) ran through the visiting batting line-up.

Speaking on Star Sports, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan reacted to the pitch criticism, pointing out that the Nagpur track’s degree of turn on Day 1 was the least since 2021 in India.

“All this hoo-ha about big turn and slow pitch in Australia, especially in the media, look at this stat from first day – 2.9 degrees since 2021. We played against England and New Zealand and last day, it was the least turn. Then what is this hoo-ha about?” Irfan questioned.

Former Australia batter Mark Waugh, who was also part of the discussion, in reply said: “It is not how much the ball turns, it is about the inconsistent turn. One goes straight and one spins a little bit. That is when you get in trouble as a batsman.”

Pathan responded back: “It is the quality of the bowlers!”

In the end, Waugh acknowledged that Jadeja bowled brilliantly to return with a five-wicket haul.

“Yes Jadeja bowled beautifully, stump to stump, great length,” he said.

Coming to the match, India rode on skipper Rohit Sharma’s century to erase the deficit and take a first-innings lead.

At the end of 72 overs, the home team was on 208/5, leading Australia by 31 runs with Rohit (107*) and Ravindra Jadeja (27*) unbeaten in the middle.