India vs England: Twitterati hit out at the Chepauk curator for preparing a placid pitch

Indian cricket fans aren’t happy with the pitch for the opening Test between India and England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, also known as the Chepauk. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Joe Root’s Three Lions smashed 578 runs in 190.1 overs.  The pitch hasn’t shown many signs of demons thus far by any stretch of the imagination.

Root made merry, scoring 218 runs off 377 balls with the help of 19 fours and two sixes. He celebrated his 100th Test in a grand style and never allowed the Indian bowlers to dictate terms. For India, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Ashwin picked up three wickets each. Washington Sundar was the only specialist bowler, who stayed wicketless after toiling hard for 26 overs.

Stokes and Dasgupta opine on the Chepauk pitch

In the meantime, Ben Stokes, the England all-rounder, felt that the pitch has started showing signs of deterioration. The southpaw felt the same while facing Shahbaz Nadeem. Thereafter, instead of going into his shell, Stokes went for the attacking shots without much fuss.

“Today initially it looked like a typical subcontinent wicket. But as soon as Nadeem got a couple of balls to turn and bounce out of the rough, I had to make a decision. I decided I would rather get out caught at deep square leg than in timid fashion at short leg,” Stokes mentioned after the second day’s play.

Deep Dasgupta, the former Indian cricketer, reckoned that after two days’ play, the pitch was scuffed up. The veteran felt that the track is likely to get slower and lower with the progression of the game. Dasgupta was of the opinion that the right-handers will have to deal with the rough patches on the deck.

“It’s dustier than what we saw yesterday. A few more rough marks for the right-hander too now. Turn and bounce might be on the slower side though giving the batsmen a little extra time,” Dasgupta was quoted as saying during commentary.

The fans expressed their displeasure over curator V Ramesh Kumar, the new curator at the Chepauk. Prior to the ongoing Test, he had never prepared a pitch even for a first-class contest.

Here’s how Twitterati reacted: –

From Gabba to Dubba #INDvsENG . They should make the new Chepauk curator Bowl for the rest of the match

— Vijay Ramachandran (@vijay750) February 6, 2021

Hello , Who is the curator of the #Chepauk Pitch 🤔#INDvENG

— Vipin pk (@vip15_vip15) February 7, 2021

From #English batting performance was superb. We need to see how India bats , but what we have seen so far it appears that the new pitch curator at #Chennai #Chepauk stadium has gone super conservative. #INDvsENG

— Sadaf Sayeed 🇮🇳 (@Sadafsayeed) February 7, 2021

@BCCI @JayShah @bhogleharsha @BoriaMajumdar ..BCCI has to issue mandate to pitch curator to not to create Chepauk kind of pitches …we as Indians have witnessed very quality pitches and games in Australia..this kind of pitches will really kill Test matches in India ..

— Kulbhushan jalkote (@Kulbhushanjalk1) February 6, 2021

Pathetic pitch. Chepauk curator should be ashamed of himself. Not to take anything away from England but the pitch is absolutely flat. No contest between ball and bat. No one is interested in watching such a match. Shameful. #INDvsENG

— Vinay Chawla (@iAmVinayChawla) February 6, 2021

Chepauk pitch once spinners heaven nw become Bowlers hell…Curator culd hav done better… Because spinners r d strength in Indian pitches especially in #Chennai I never seen tis much flatter pitch in Chennai from past decade #disappointing #INDvsENG hope batsmen will do well..

— yuvaraj (@yuvi_tweetz) February 6, 2021

Indian bowlers have bowled their heart out. Hopefully the batsmen will standup!

The Chepauk Pitch Curator shall be shacked for the next match.

What a shame.#INDvsENG

— Shubham Agrawal (@shubh_vachan) February 6, 2021

@MMRDAOfficial can you give all roads and highway contracts to the curator of the Chepauk stadium? #INDvsENG

— SidIyer (@SidIyer) February 6, 2021

The Pitch Curator at Chepauk might have been an officer of the PWD , earlier in Career !!

— Samya Dey (@SamyaDey2) February 6, 2021

@englandcricket still batting..wondering on the game plan!!! @BCCI #INDvsENG Pitch looking so flat! Curator has to think for next game and make things happen in #chepauk

— Naveen Chittemsetty (@naveen4everyone) February 7, 2021

Chepauk ke curator took it personally 😥

— G (@ThatWittyGal) February 7, 2021