Bangladesh coach describes Chennai pitch as resembling a sporting wicket

Chennai is getting ready to host the first Test between India and Bangladesh, with a typical red soil pitch being prepared for the game. As of now, some grass has been sprinkled on the pitch but there is still some work left to be done before the Test kicks off on Thursday. Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha described the pitch as a "sporting wicket" and it will be interesting to see how it plays out once the match begins.

“It looks like a sporting wicket at this stage. But, judging by the sub-continent conditions, it can change right from Day 1. Not sure when it is going to start turning though,” he said.

Traditionally, Chennai has produced red soil pitches that tend to hold firm but 2021 had witnessed a departure from that practice when a strip with a loose black top soil was dished out after England had won the first Test at the same venue.

England’s batting imploded both times and India eased to a series-levelling win due to an all-round performance from local boy Ravichandran Ashwin and a hundred from Rohit Sharma.

So brittle was the top soil back then that spinners accounted for 17 of the 20 England wickets in that Test. This pitch however could provide a more balanced game, as bowlers can expect bounce and carry and spinners can come into the picture after the third day.

India are likely to play five bowlers with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj sharing the new ball and Ashwin and Jadeja as the lead spinners. How the pitch looks before the toss could prompt India picking a third spinner in Kuldeep Yadav or going for an extra seamer in Akash Deep.