India head coach Ravi Shastri on Saturday (March 6) hailed the curator for preparing pitches that provided "fantastic entertainment" in the last two Test matches at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
The pitch for the pink-ball Test between India and England came under the scanner after the game ended inside two days at the Narendra Modi Stadium, with the hosts winning it by 10 wickets.
England were bowled out for 112 and 81 across the two innings, while India scored 145 in the first essay before chasing a 49-run target without any hiccup.
On the other hand, India outclassed England by an innings and 25 runs inside three days in the fourth and final Test.
"Why should I hold back? I attribute it to the groundsman," Shastri said after India’s emphatic victory in the final Test.
"I think Ashish Bhowmick is an outstanding groundsman, he knows his job. He has learnt it the hard way. He worked with Daljit Singh, who was a master curator.
"Who will complain against a track like this? It is fantastic entertainment, for both teams and the game and the result 3-1 doesn't really suggest how close the series was."
With this win, India also booked a place in the World Test Championship final. They will face New Zealand in the summit clash, slated to be played in June this year.
"For us to be on the top of the table in World Test championship is two-and-a-half years of work and for those years to be successful, it's been six years prior to that," he said.
"The boys took one series at a time, they were not really bothered about the World Test Championship because the goal post gets shifted every time.
"We were heading the table and some rule change came of percentage system when we were not even playing but never mind all that, we have got 520 points, we deserve to be on top of the table and playing that final."
The hosts had suffered an embarrassing 227-run defeat in the series opener at Chepauk and Shastri blamed fatigue for it.
"It could have been different if we had a few more days off but no excuse. Boys were like zombies, they were tired and there was no crowd to cheer them on. Because everything was flat and so was the performance," he said.
"But then a kick on the back side to reignite the pride in the system can make a lot of difference and that showed in the last three Tests."
He was elated to see the youngsters stepping up to the plate.
"... when you see youngsters coming through the ranks and performing in such situation which are really tough. Not one individual calling the shots. We've given opportunities for youngsters and they have grabbed those and delivered," Shastri said.
"They have been in a corner but they have fought from there. This side refuses to give up. We were irrepressible in Australia and we are the same here too.
"What Pant and Sundar pulled off yesterday was unreal because the pressure was on us and we were trailing by 50 and from there to get 360 was an outstanding achievement."
