India are set to host England in the third Test at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot from February 15.
However, the stadium has striking resemblances to the Lord's Cricket Ground. In fact, the media boxes of the two stadiums are almost identical to each other.
Bet here on India vs England and other cricket matches!
Before the Test match, India's veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin shared pictures of the two stadiums comparing the media boxes which went viral among fans.
Media box at the @saucricket ground.
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) February 12, 2024
Media box at the Lords cricket ground. pic.twitter.com/nvouBaIxCR
The one in Rajkot was inaugurated in 2012 and is inspired by the spaceship-like media centre at Lord's, which was integrated into the structure of the stadium back in 1999.
India enters the third Test with momentum following a remarkable comeback in the second Test in Vizag. Despite losing the opening match, the team rallied with stellar performances from players like Jasprit Bumrah, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shubman Gill, securing a notable 106-run victory.
As Ashwin nears his 500th Test wicket, he aims to join the elite club alongside his rival Nathan Lyon. If he achieves this milestone in Rajkot, he will become only the second Indian cricketer after Anil Kumble to reach this feat. Additionally, Ashwin will become the ninth player in cricket history to achieve 500 Test wickets.
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.
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 |
If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >