IND v WI 2018: BCCI chief curator Daljit Singh gives an insight into his work

Daljit has played his part in the emergence of fast bowling in the country.

Daljit has played his part in the emergence of fast bowling in the country | AFP

He maybe isn't talked about as much but BCCI chief curator Daljit Singh's role in the widespread emergence of a fast bowling culture in India is highly substantial. 

Thanks to the board's efforts and intentions, the pitches, across both domestic as well as International level, are more encouraging and conducive to fast bowling than ever, and it has subsequently led to a number of fresh talents wanting to run big and let the ball go at pace, in the country. 

The current fast bowling crop - Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav - is the best India has produced at the highest level. 

And, as Daljit himself says, "It didn't happen overnight." 

Nine matches during the 2015-16 first-class season finished off inside two days and there were a number of rank turners seen and something had to be done about the alarming situation. 

This is when the BCCI decided to introduce the concept of neutral curators on grounds at all levels and it reaped immediate rewards for it. 

Daljit said, “We got positive feedback during the last domestic season, so the board will continue with neutral curators in the upcoming 2018-19 Ranji Trophy, a move that ensured that there were no two-day finishes or rank turners,”

During the first Test against West Indies at Rajkot, there was  5-7 mm grass on Day 1 of the game, it is a fine example of what Indian curators have been commanded to do by the administrative authorities and Daljit's team. 

"For hardness and bounce, the depth of the grass is also important. We look for something (grass) that grows in our country," Daljit said and added, "to make the wicket seamer friendly on the first two days, with the spinners coming into play on day three and four. Nothing unusual."

Daljit knows the nature of Indian pitches very well and says, "Indian pitches, in general, contain less smectite, which is best for pitches because of small particle size (0.001 microns) and large surface area. Pitches in Australia and South Africa have smectite in abundance. The clay is so light; it floats in water!"

(Inputs from Sportstar)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 13 Oct, 2018

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