In India, the notion of discussing home pitches is typically unwelcome among cricketers, who harbor disdain for the derogatory terms often associated with turning tracks—described as dustbowls, “rank” turners, or wrestling pits. They fiercely protect the integrity of their home advantage, standing firm against the notion that a three-day Test match concluded on a spin-friendly pitch should be deemed inferior to a similarly brief encounter on a green, seaming surface.
However, Indian cricketers exhibit a contradictory stance; while they assert they have no hand in pitch preparation, they often interject in that very process, frustrating ground staff in the process. During the 2023 “ICC” ODI World Cup staged in India, a notable occurrence was observed: of the five venues that generated “average” pitches, three out of five were during India’s matches, and one was tailored just before India arrived. The definition of what constitutes an “average” versus a “good” pitch is subjective, yet it was clear that India sought specific conditions suited for particular opponents, and their requests were indeed fulfilled, even in the context of an ICC tournament.
One could argue that seeking a competitive edge in professional sports is perfectly valid. The ethos of groundskeepers is not necessarily to create universally ideal pitches, but rather to craft surfaces that strategically benefit the home side. While Australia boasts instances where chief groundsmen have pushed back against meddlesome captains, almost every other cricketing nation follows this trend. During Ashes series in England, pitch conditions tend to oscillate between those favoring spin and seam, dependent on the strengths of the Australian lineup during that cycle. South African teams have also faced challenges as they mercilessly press groundsmen for extreme home advantage, sometimes to detrimental effects.
In 2023, Pakistan selectors practically commandeered the pitch-curation process, underlining this universal desire among teams to secure grounds that bolster their strengths.
Should India continue to ask for rank turners?
4.1K votes
Depends on the opposition
In India, the prevailing hope is that the team’s constant entreaties for spin-friendly conditions are founded on cold professional logic dissected by analytics, rather than emotional scars from past whitewashes in England and Australia that led players to demand extreme turning pitches. Interestingly, Gautam Gambhir, now the head coach, was the first player to publicly express such a desire during his playing days. However, there’s a counterargument suggesting that the pitches in Pune and Mumbai against New Zealand actually hindered India’s home advantage, as the team has suffered seven Test defeats in their own country over the past 12 years, four of which occurred on highly favorable spinning surfaces. One of those defeats can be attributed to an extreme weather event in Bengaluru that created excessive seam movement, while another was marked by an unusual, fortunate innings from Ollie Pope in Hyderabad.
Particularly haunting for India was their third defeat, when Joe Root capitalized on favorable conditions batting first in Chennai during 2021. This incident seems to have fueled India’s intensified demand for excessive spin from day one. This strategy appeared to support MS Dhoni’s assertion that toss advantages diminish on pitches offering substantial turn from the outset. India’s pressure to maximize World Test Championship points at home has undoubtedly influenced this approach.
On ranks that favor turners, the disparity in skill required between India’s and visiting spinners reduces significantly. The statistics reveal that spinners averaged just below 24 during India’s 3-0 defeat against New Zealand. ESPNcricinfo analyst Shiva Jayaraman highlighted that in Tests since 2017 where spinners collectively averaged below 24, Indian spinners excelled with an average of 16.37, contrasting sharply with visiting spinners’ average of 22.91.
The gulf in spinner quality becomes apparent when they are challenged to grind harder for wickets. In Tests following 2017 where the average soared above 24, Indian spinners showed an average of 26.22 while visiting spinners faced a tremendous gap, averaging a daunting 57.04 per wicket. These conditions often introduce reverse swing, benefiting India’s pacers adept at this facet of the game.
Nevertheless, since 2020, six visiting spinners have recorded their first five-wicket hauls in Test cricket in India: Joe Root, Mitchell Santner, Todd Murphy, Tom Hartley, Matt Kuhnemann, and Shoaib Bashir. Although it may seem counterintuitive to create conditions that narrow the skill gap between the likes of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja and their visiting counterparts, one might understand calling for extreme turners toward the end of a taxing season, but it raises eyebrows when the bowlers are fresh.
India’s batting unit, conversely, has found itself struggling considerably on pitches that excessively bolster the spinners. Since 2017, Virat Kohli’s statistics depict an average of 90.25 against spin on surfaces where spinners average over 24; alarming, however, is the drop to a mere 20.13 when faced with pitches that allow spinners to average less than that threshold. As many captains tend to influence pitch decisions, it seems paradoxical for them to prioritize team victories while disregarding personal statistics. Yet, if they take a broader view, they may realize that excessively spinning surfaces could potentially harm the team’s overall performance as well.
Under the leadership of Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma, the Indian team made a deliberate stand to embrace whatever pitch conditions were proffered during Test matches, persisting with this strategy despite early setbacks against England in early 2024. They managed to secure a 4-1 series victory. However, the response to their Bengaluru defeat against New Zealand has sparked a notable shift under the governance of Gambhir and Rohit.
Should India have been fortunate enough to win the toss in Pune and Mumbai, it’s likely they would have claimed victories in those two Tests. Yet, their current batting lineup lacks the caliber to mitigate the disadvantage of losing the toss, which traditionally affords the opposition approximately three hours of favorable conditions before the pitch complicates matters, precisely what Dravid and Rohit wanted to avoid by opting for normal surfaces.
As the statistics since 2017 reveal, on pitches where spinners average above 24, India boasts a record of 16 wins, three losses, and five draws. In comparison, the extreme pitches yield a record of ten wins and four losses. When losing the toss, these numbers adjust to 6-2-3 and 6-3 respectively, suggesting that the thin line between bravery and reckless gambling has become increasingly ambiguous in recent years.
Sidharth Monga, a senior writer at ESPNcricinfo, provides these insights, highlighting the intricacies of pitch politics in Indian cricket.
Tilak Varma age
**Interview with Sports Analyst and Former Cricketer Anita Verma on Home Advantage in Indian Cricket**
**Interviewer:** Good morning, Anita! Thank you for joining us today to discuss the advantages of home pitches in cricket, particularly in the context of Indian cricket.
**Anita Verma:** Good morning! It’s a pleasure to be here.
**Interviewer:** Let’s dive right in. The notion of home advantage is often debated in cricket. In your opinion, how significant is it for Indian players to have pitches that favor spin?
**Anita Verma:** Home advantage plays a crucial role in cricket, especially for a team like India that has a rich tradition of producing exceptional spin bowlers. Spin-friendly conditions can make a vast difference, not only in performance but also in a player’s confidence. When players are accustomed to certain pitch conditions, it can reduce anxiety and allow them to perform at their best.
**Interviewer:** That being said, there’s a delicate balance. Critics argue that asking for extreme turners can backfire, as evidenced by India’s defeats on favorable spinning tracks. Why do you think India continues this strategy?
**Anita Verma:** It’s a double-edged sword. While players may feel more secure on turning pitches, the reality is that it can expose weaknesses in their own batting lineup, particularly against spinners who adapt quickly. I believe the demand for spin-friendly conditions is rooted in a mix of strategic calculations and emotional reactions to past defeats. The fear of losing in home conditions drives that desire for more turn.
**Interviewer:** With Gautam Gambhir now the head coach, he was one of the first to openly advocate for turning wickets during his playing days. How has this mentality evolved in the current team management?
**Anita Verma:** Gambhir understands the nuances of pressure on home soil. His experience as a player informs his coaching. We see a shift towards analytics in decision-making, where data on player performance against different conditions are taken more seriously. He’s likely to push for pitches that maximize India’s strengths, but I think they also need to be cautious. Adapting strategies based on the specific opponent can be more beneficial than a one-size-fits-all approach.
**Interviewer:** There’s an interesting dynamic with visiting spinners performing well on these spin-friendly tracks. Does this indicate a potential flaw in India’s strategy?
**Anita Verma:** Absolutely. It’s essential to acknowledge that while India’s spinners may thrive in their home conditions, exceeding expectations can lead to vulnerability, as we’ve seen with visiting players performing well. This strategy should be flexible. It’s about understanding when to assert home advantage and ensuring that it doesn’t create an environment that can backfire.
**Interviewer:** So, in your opinion, should India persist with the request for dustbowls or adapt their approach?
**Anita Verma:** India should adopt a more nuanced approach. Maintaining home advantage is undoubtedly critical, but clarity on how different pitches serve the team is essential. They should work closely with groundskeepers to create pitches that support their strengths but also leave room for adaptability based on the opponent. Balance is key.
**Interviewer:** Final thoughts on this topic?
**Anita Verma:** Home advantage is a vital aspect of cricket that should be harnessed wisely. It’s about winning matches while ensuring the integrity of the game. The objective is not just to win at all costs but to develop as a team, learn from every match, and grow, regardless of external conditions.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Anita, for your insights! It’s been great to discuss the complexities surrounding home advantage in cricket.
**Anita Verma:** Thank you for having me! It’s been a pleasure.
