Former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan wants the pitch for the upcoming third Test between India and England in Rajkot to be similar to the first two Tests of the ongoing five-match Test series.

In Hyderabad and Vizag, the pitches were fair to all be it the batters, fast bowlers, or the spinners. As the third Test is set to get underway on February 15 in Rajkot, Zaheer advocated for a fair pitch at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

The 2011 World Cup winner suggested that Team India should avoid the temptation to prepare a heavily spin-favored pitch in Rajkot, as the sporting pitches have produced exciting and balanced contests so far.

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So far in the Test series, star players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ollie Pope, and Shubman Gill have shown that runs can be scored with patience and skill. Even England's debutant spinner, Tom Hartley, brilliantly performed despite the pitch being not very spin-friendly.

On the other hand, Jasprit Bumrah has been exceptional in Vizag, delivering one of his career’s best performances against England despite the fact that the conditions weren't favorable for fast bowlers.

Zaheer Khan said on Jio Cinema: “I hope the pitch is on similar lines to the one in Hyderabad and Vizag. On that kind a surface, we should be able to see a good contest between bat and ball for the first two days and spin comes into play on the third day. You’ll see some reverse swing as well. And on the fourth and fifth days, you’ll have the spinners dominating.”

He signed off by saying, “If that is the pattern, it will make for a nice viewing experience for all the spectators and the fans will enjoy it. England are up for that kind of a challenge, and you would want England to be debating four spin options, two-seam seam options. You would want England to be confused when they are taking those decisions.”

(With ANI/PTI Inputs)