Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir feels that both India and England will start the third Test at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad on equal terms as it is a new venue.
The four-match Test series between India and England stands level at 1-1, with visitors winning the first Test match by 227 runs and Virat Kohli led side bouncing back to register a 317-run victory in the second Test at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai.
With the series being leveled 1-1, Team India will face off against England in the third Test match, which also happens to be a pink-ball Test, at the newly built Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad.
There are many conjectures on how the pink ball will help fast bowlers and with the match being played in a new stadium, there is added uncertainty over how the pitch will behave.
However, the pink ball has traditionally benefited the pacers in both swing and seam a bit more than the red ball.
Addressing the same former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir said that both the teams will start on equal terms in the pink-ball game as none of them know the pitch condition at the newly-built Sardar Patel Stadium.
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“It's a new stadium, a new wicket and the Test match will be played with the pink ball. So, nobody knows how will the ball move, seam, or bounce. Plus, it's a new venue for both teams, hence both teams will start on equal terms.
“ If we talk about Chennai, then Team India knew the pitch conditions. But in Motera, neither India nor England can judge the condition of the pitch." Gautam Gambhir told on Starsports.
Gambhir further said that English skipper Joe Root would've been happy if someone would've told him to enter the pink-ball Test with 1-1 and added that both teams have a fierce bowling attack and it will be interesting to see the kind of wicket the teams get.
"Joe Root would've been happy if someone would've told him that they will enter the pink-ball Test with a 1-1 score. Team India has the arsenal of fast bowling -- which could be troublesome for England, and vice versa England also has a fast bowling attack. It will be interesting to see the kind of wicket the teams get," he said.
The last two Test matches will be crucial for both teams in the context of the ICC World Test Championship.
For England to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship final at home, they need to win both the remaining Test matches against India.
Team India on the other hand can't afford to lose another Test in the series as that will mean conceding their spot in the World Test Championship Final and will open up chances for England and Australia.
(Starsports inputs)
