Chennai’s red soil pitch for Bangladesh Test prepared keeping India vs Australia series in mind

The Chennai ground staff is working hard to prepare the red soil pitch at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. India’s first test against BangladeshThis surface is specially designed to help India prepare for the upcoming tour against Australia. The red soil, which is known to provide extra bounce, is the preferred choice, giving the Indian players a chance to simulate the conditions they will face in Australia.

India’s intention is clear – they want to use the bouncy pitch to prepare for the more challenging tasks ahead (India vs Australia). However, at the same time, they don’t want to give any advantage to Bangladesh, who have a strong spin bowling attack.

Grass trimming and heat management: India vs Bangladesh

According to the Indian Express, when India arrived in Chennai last week, the pitch designated for the Test had thick grass. The challenge for the ground staff, led by curator C Ramesh Kumar, was to ensure that the red soil surface remained bouncy and did not give any advantage to Bangladesh’s spinners.

The team worked day and night, carefully removing the grass and keeping the pitch moist so that it would not collapse in the scorching Chennai heat. The use of hessian cloth and tarpaulin covers has been essential to control moisture levels, with ground staff keeping a close watch on the surface. Temperatures in the city have soared to 30 degrees, making the job even more difficult.

To maintain the right balance, the pitch is watered frequently and rolled multiple times every day, to ensure it stays firm and does not break down prematurely. This delicate balance is crucial as it will prevent the surface from being too spin-friendly at the start of the game, while still providing the desired bounce.

Pitch conditions: A test for India’s spinners

India’s spinners Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav are set to play in this Test, continuing the team’s strategy of playing three spinners at home. With Ashwin and Jadeja becoming regular starters, Kuldeep’s impressive performances earlier this year have cemented his place in the team.

The question about India’s fast bowling attack is whether they will rest Mohammed Siraj for this Test as their focus is on workload management ahead of a busy season. Jasprit Bumrah is expected to lead the fast bowling attack, but the team management is considering a rotation policy to keep the players fresh.

Ready for Chennai Test against Bangladesh

Rohit Sharma and his team’s preparations in Chennai indicate a clear strategy for the upcoming India vs Australia series. The team has been practising on a similar pitch, which has been watered continuously to maintain firmness. The grass was almost completely cut by the time India’s camp ended, so the pitch is expected to be a balanced contest between bat and ball.

The last question is whether there will be grass on the pitch on the morning of the Test. Either way, with both sides fielding some of the best spinners in the game, this Test could be an interesting battle of skills on a surface designed keeping in mind India’s future challenges.