‘How long will they keep it in the oven?’ Shastri’s unusual pitch prediction for India’s 4th Test against Australia in Ahmedabad

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri agreed with captain Rohit Sharma that the Ahmedabad pitch for the fourth Test against Australia would turn, but questioned how quickly.

Indore: Indian captain Rohit Sharma with teammate Virat Kohli on the third day of the third test cricket match between India and Australia, Friday, March 3, 2023, at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.

What will the 22 yard pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad be like for the fourth and final Test between India and Australia, which begins on Thursday? Will the curators risk preparing another rank turner after the backlash – it received a low ICC rating – the Indore pitch received? Will the Indian team management abandon their strategy of preparing pitches with turn from Day 1 after it backfired in the third Test? Do India have faith in their spinners to take Australian wickets on a less-than-ideal pitch? There are many unanswered questions before the series finale.

India captain Rohit Sharma has expressed his displeasure with the pitch talk during the series. He also stated that India will play to their strengths and prepare pitches that will aid spinners, despite a nine-wicket loss in the third Test and a poor pitch rating from the ICC.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri agreed that the Ahmedabad pitch would turn, but asked how quickly.

“The question is how quickly it will turn. How long will it be in the oven? They kept it a little longer this time “Shastri said on Star Sports that the Indore pitch had more than six degrees of turn as early as the sixth over of Day 1.

“It will be really nice to see a pitch that allows both of these great batting units to showcase their skills and abilities,” ex-Australia opener Matthew Hayden said of the Indore pitch.

“True. That is something I believe many viewers around the world would like. Both teams’ batters would want that “Shastri concurred.

The local association has not received any specific instructions from the Indian team management regarding pitch preparations in Gujarat.

“We haven’t received any instructions from the Indian team management, and our local curators are preparing a standard track as we have done all season,” a state association source told PTI on Saturday.

“In fact, in the most recent Ranji game over here in January, Railways scored 500+ (508) batting first, while Gujarat, despite losing an innings, scored 200+ in both innings. This time won’t be much different, “He stated.

“Obviously, the BCCI’s grounds and pitches committee instructed the local curator in the last few days. But, without a doubt, our goal is to create a good Test match pitch “According to the official.

The last two Test matches played in Ahmedabad lasted just under two days.

“You have to consider that the Day/Night Test and the following one were the first ones held after the stadium was refurbished, and you had no idea how the pitch would turn out,” he added.