Five times when pitch created controversy in India

The Indian team management and the authorities have been put under major scrutiny regarding the quality of the Test pitch at the Motera Stadium after the day-night Test between India and England ended in just under two days. Many former English players, including some veteran Indian stars, showed some major concerns over the pitch that seemed to favour the bowlers especially the spinners.

However, this is not the first time when the cricket pitch has created a controversy in India. There have been many instances in the past when the groundsman failed to make the pitches according to the rules laid out by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and managed to stir massive controversies.

In this article, let’s discuss five times when pitch created controversy in India:

1. IND vs AUS 2017 Pune Test

The first Test match of the four-match series between India and Australia at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune was marred with controversies. To please the Men in Blue, the team officials in Pune went on to prepare possibly one of the worst home pitches. Losing the toss cost Indian skipper Virat Kohli the game too as the pitch didn’t provide any assistance to the batters.

The match commenced with Australia racking up a score of 260 runs on the board. In reply, India were crushed out for a paltry total of 105 runs as the spinner Steve O’Keefe made the most out of the pitch that produced enough turn and bounce. This was followed by the visiting nation scoring 285 runs in the third innings while India could manage only 107 runs and lost the game by a whopping 333 runs.

The pitch of the Pune Stadium had invited criticism from all across the globe and had also received a poor rating from the International Cricket Council (ICC) because of being a rank turner.