IND vs ZIM: ‘Fresh’ Chepauk pitch should bring welcome relief for India

CHENNAI: Normally India don’t care much about the pitch when they are playing T20 cricket at home. But now, following the hammering against South Africa and the recent struggles of the Indian batters right through the T20 World Cup, the 22 yards have become a talking point.

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As the Indian team reached Chennai on Monday afternoon for the must-win game against Zimbabwe on Thursday, the management appeared to have done their homework about the pitch that is going to be on offer.




India’s big-hitters, who love the ball coming on to the bat, have had a rough time in the tournament and Zimbabwe have a lot of ‘pace-off ’ bowlers. The Chepauk pitch, luckily, may come as a bit of a relief for Suryakumar Yadav’s men. Traditionally, it is a slow pitch which would have helped the Zimbabwe bowlers like Sikander Raza and Blessing Muzarabani, but a few things appear to have changed this time around.

The ground was dug up before the World Cup and one of the tracks was completely relaid. But the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association authorities ensured that no cricket was played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium (MAC) for more than five months, which kept the pitches fresh.


Hence, the ball is coming on to the bat way better on both the red and black soil pitches than it has been over the past few years. In the first match — a day-game between Afghanistan and New Zealand — Afghan coach Jonathan Trott decided to keep left-arm wrist spinner and Chennai Super Kings star Noor Ahmad out of the XI. The Afghans couldn’t defend 182 with New Zealand getting the runs in 17.5 overs, quite a stark departure from earlier day-games at the venue, where an asking rate of eight used to be par.

Now let’s look at some of the other scores at the Chepauk in this World Cup. NZ chased down 175 in 15.2 overs against UAE while Canada’s Yuvraj Samra hit a fluent 65-ball 110 against the Black Caps. The ball didn’t turn or stop much and NZ chased down the target of 176 in 15.1 overs.

While captain Mitchell Santner said it was a “pretty flat wicket in the end”, New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson said “the pitch was exceptional”. “I’ve played a bit in Chennai, it can turn… (pacers) Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy got quite a bit out of the pitch,” Ferguson said.

In the two night-games that have been played so far here, the teams batting first have won quite easily, defending 196 and 200. The dew factor, which has often played a big role in games at the venue, hasn’t played havoc this time around. In such a situation, captain ‘SKY’ may well look to bat first.

For Zimbabwe a 180-game (batting or fielding first) would be ideal. But the conditions at MAC suggest it should not be enough.


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