I can’t understand why India prepared a pitch like this: Stuart Broad

Despite losing three quick wickets in the morning session on Day 1 of the fourth Test against India, England managed to post 353 runs on board in the first innings. Joe Root rose to the occasion and played to his merit scoring 122* runs and bailing the visitors out of trouble. Ollie Robinson supported him perfectly as he made 58 against the quality Indian bowling attack. 

In reply, the hosts struggled. James Anderson picked up the wicket of skipper Rohit Sharma in the third over of the innings and following which, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill tried to build a partnership but the latter got out on 38 runs. That triggered a collapse as India were suddenly 177/7. Jaiswal was the star with the bat as he scored 73 runs but India won’t be too happy with the performance of the other batters.

Shoaib Bashir, who is playing his second Test, dismantled India’s middle order, picking up four wickets on Day 2. England would be very happy with their domination so far but questions are being raised on the nature of the pitch. On Day 1 of the Test, England skipper Ben Stokes was out to Ravindra Jadeja after the ball hit his toe. It didn’t bounce as much as Stokes anticipated as he went back all smiling. 

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The Stokes dismissal and India’s collapse forced former cricketer Stuart Broad to question their strategy behind preparing a rank-turner, given their impeccable record on flat surfaces.

“I mainly tweet about England- but looking at India. They’re an amazing team on flat Test pitches in India where their spinners skill comes into it & they out bowl other teams. Playing on pitches that roll along the floor brings in the opposition so much more. I can’t understand why they’ve prepared a pitch like this?” Broad tweeted.

Meanwhile, the hosts are trailing by 134 runs after the end of Day 2. They will need something special from Dhruv Jurel and Kuldeep Yadav on Day 3 to keep India alive in the contest.