The pitch at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot is anticipated to feature a slow-turner for the third Test between India and England.
According to reports, the Indian team management, led by Rahul Dravid, has expressed a preference for a slow turner rather than a raging turner on the Rajkot pitch. This decision aligns with the strategy to cater to the strengths of the Indian team while also providing a balanced contest between bat and ball.
In the preceding Tests in Hyderabad and Vishakhapatnam, the pitches did not exhibit excessive turn, deviating from the typical expectation of spin-friendly tracks in Indian conditions. The management's directive to curators reflects a desire for a pitch that offers assistance to spinners without excessively favouring them.
The choice of a slow-turner is motivated by various factors. Most importantly, it acknowledges the challenges even Indian batsmen face on extremely turning tracks, with some struggling to adapt.
The Rajkot pitch is usually conducive to batting during the early stages of the game, with spinners coming into play due to the wear and tear on offer off the pitch as the game progresses into Days 3, 4, and 5. According to a BCCI source, as quoted by TOI, "The Indian team management is comfortable with a slow turner. They don't want a raging turner."
Here's the first glimpse of the Rajkot pitch for the third match between India and England👀
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) February 13, 2024
📸: Stephan Shemilt pic.twitter.com/QLxdjb1oeY
2483 runs have been scored here across seven innings, with 58 wickets falling. This shows that for every wicket taken, 43 runs have been scored at this venue, further proving that the pitch is ideal for batsmen.
The two teams have matched each other toe-to-toe, with England drawing first blood in the Hyderabad Test by winning by 28 runs.
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India avenged the defeat in the series opener by producing a terrific bowling display in Visakhapatnam, led by the unplayable Jasprit Bumrah, who became the fastest Indian pacer to reach the 150-wicket landmark in Tests and the first-ever Indian fast bowler to climb to the top of the ICC Men's Test Bowling Rankings.
So far, Rajkot has hosted only two Test matches. The first-ever Test match in Rajkot took place between India and England in 2016. It ended in a draw.
The last time a Test was played here resulted in India providing a battering to the West Indies, defeating them by an innings and 272 in 2018.
Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium: Average scores and toss results in Tests
| Average first innings score in Rajkot | 593 |
| Matches won by team batting first | 1 |
| Matches won by chasing team | 0 |
*one game ended in a draw
India vs England, 3rd Test: Latest predictions, betting odds
As per odds on Dafabet, India are the overwhelming favourites to win the third Test and take a 2-1 lead in the series.
| Match result | Betting odds |
| India win | 1.43 |
| Draw | 9.40 |
| England win | 3.95 |
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