The spotlight shone on the centre of the field as the makeshift buggy circled it. Two people could fit inside, holding a handrail and putting it to the 4th BGT Test on Wednesday. Prime Ministers of India and Australia were set to take a lap among the cheers of an overflowing audience. All attention was directed at them, but the show’s real star was the scorching cricket pitch. It had a greater impact than this game or series alone; its conditions were about to shape history.
Motera pitch could be similar to surfaces from the past, where runs are available in the first innings before the spinners come into play. If India wins the match with their batters and spinners making an impact, they may consider using such pitches more often in the future. The current Indian batting lineup is not as strong against the spinning ball as in the past, with a drop in averages and several players losing their spots. If India can win this Test, it could provide them with the blueprint for future home series, or if not, cause a retreat back to the more familiar spin-friendly tracks.
If India were to suffer a defeat in this game, the potential implications would be significant, particularly regarding how their loss was achieved. The coach may take an even more rigid perspective, seeking out turners and continuing to consult with curators. Dravid has been an active presence at the pitch throughout his coaching tenure, regularly engaging in conversations with curators, including during pre-game talks and even on the first day’s lunch break in Indore. If India does not emerge victorious, then the argument may be made that India has only lost three Tests since 2013 on spin tracks – a winning formula that should remain the same.
The stakes could not be higher. Since the surprise attack of the South Africans on custom-made pitches in 2015, Test matches have usually been played on off-breaks. As Dravid acknowledged on Tuesday, the strain from the World Test Championship (WTC) has only added to the favoritism towards spin bowling.
India may need to win the Test to see any changes. Their batting problems have caused them to reevaluate the use of rank turners, not out of some sense of fairness or morality, but rather from their point of view. The outcome of the Ahmedabad BGT match could prompt such philosophical reflections.
