NEW DELHI: India’s upcoming Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, the city’s maiden match as a Test venue, is expected to be a virtual “away game” for both teams due to unfamiliar pitch conditions, said Ravichandran Ashwin. The second and final match against World Test Championship holders South Africa will be played from November 22-26.
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Speaking on his Hindi YouTube channel, Ashwin highlighted the importance of having permanent Test centres with well-prepared pitches across the country. He pointed out that none of the current Indian players would have experience playing red-ball cricket at Guwahati.
“South Africa are coming in as champions, but they don’t have much experience against spin either. We will have to think about standard Test centres. When we play a Test in Guwahati, it is an away game for both sides,” Ashwin said.
He stressed that familiarity with conditions and pitch behaviour gives any home team a significant advantage. “A Test centre is not just about crowds. It’s about knowing the conditions. In Ranchi, Indore, or Guwahati, the identity of the surface is very different. Some pitches don’t bounce, and some don’t deteriorate,” he explained.
Ashwin also underlined the importance of preparing proper pitches with the right mix of red and black soil to ensure consistent bounce and playability. “Good pitches can make any venue a Test centre. Indore is a good example because the red soil gives bounce,” he added.
He further noted that venues where wickets don’t deteriorate, limiting spin, can reduce the advantage for Indian spinners. “If you try to make these wickets spin artificially, they can become unplayable. The wicket should turn naturally while still allowing the batsman to play,” Ashwin said.
Overall, Ashwin emphasised that India needs proper Test centres with quality pitches to maintain home advantage and ensure competitive cricket across all venues.
(PTI Inputs)
