Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has delivered a crucial piece of advice regarding the pitch preparations for the upcoming two-match Test series between India and West Indies. He strongly cautions against creating ‘rank turner’ pitches, asserting that such surfaces could prove counterproductive by reducing the inherent skill gap between the two teams.
The series is slated to commence with the first Test in Ahmedabad on October 2, followed by the second Test in Delhi on October 10.
Chopra shared his insightful perspective through a video on his popular YouTube channel, emphasizing the paramount importance of thoughtful pitch preparation for this international fixture.
He candidly questioned the strategy of designing excessively spin-friendly wickets, reflecting on previous instances where India themselves struggled. “The biggest thing is what sort of pitches you want to play on in these two matches. We got stuck in Bengaluru when the pitch had a lot of moisture. Then we went to Pune and Mumbai and played on turners, and got stuck in both places. Why do you have to make such pitches?” he queried, highlighting the potential pitfalls.
Chopra further elaborated that overly bowler-friendly conditions could inadvertently empower the West Indies’ spin attack, potentially making them appear more formidable than they truly are. “Such pitches are not required at all because the more bowler-friendly pitches you make, the closer the teams come. You are playing in the subcontinent, so the ball will turn. However, if it turns from the first ball and the soil starts coming out, stay away from that kind of a surface because that surface is counterproductive,” he stressed.
He specifically pointed out West Indies’ spin options, including Jomel Warrican, Khary Pierre, and Roston Chase, who could become significant threats on pitches designed for excessive turn.
Instead, Chopra advocated for pitches that would allow matches to unfold naturally over a longer duration, ideally extending into the fourth or fifth day. “You should play on good pitches where you will have to work a little hard. If the match doesn’t get over in three days, so be it. It’s a five-day match. It’s absolutely fine if it’s a three-and-a-half to four-and-a-half day game,” he advised, promoting a fair contest between bat and ball.
The cricketer-turned-commentator also drew attention to how extreme pitches in India have negatively impacted the confidence and performance of senior Indian batsmen in recent years. “I will be very honest, if you see Virat Kohli or Cheteshwar Pujara’s careers, you will find that the runs they didn’t score in the end for a long time, the main reason for that was the Indian pitches. When you make such pitches in India, where runs aren’t scored, you don’t get confidence, and runs won’t be scored overseas in any case,” he explained.
He recalled India’s successful strategy during their home series against England last year, where they clinched victories in the final four Tests on balanced pitches, underscoring the benefits of such surfaces.
Chopra’s recommendations come in the wake of India’s past struggles on challenging pitch conditions, including their Test series losses against New Zealand on turner pitches in a previous year. He believes the upcoming Tests against West Indies should feature pitches that provide a genuine, multi-day challenge for all aspects of the game, rather than seeking quick results on extreme surfaces.