India vs England: Pitch Used For Pink-Ball Test Rated "Average" By ICC

The pitch used for the third Test between India and England in Ahmedabad has been rated 'average' by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The day-night Test was played at the Narendra Modi Stadium from February 24 to 25 with the pink ball and finished inside two days as both teams struggled on a surface that assisted the spinners. England made 112 and 81 even as India were bowled out for 145 in the first innings and then chased the target of 49 runs with 10 wickets in hand. 

The pitch had been criticised by several English pundits, including former cricketers Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook even as India captain Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin blamed a lack of application by batsmen from both sides for the string of low scores.

Vaughan even went as far as calling India's win "a shallow victory" and said India being allowed to get away with such pitches made ICC look "toothless." 

"The longer powerful countries like India are allowed to get away with it the more toothless the ICC will look," Vaughan had written in the Daily Telegraph. 

"The governing body are allowing India to produce whatever they wish and it is Test cricket that is getting hurt," he wrote. 

Kohli had dismissed criticism of the pitch had called the Test "bizarre". 

"I have never experienced this before. A bizarre game which got over in two days," Kohli had said after the match. 

"We were 100 for 3 and then got bowled out for less than 150. It was just the odd ball turning and it was a good wicket to bat in the first innings. It was bizarre that 21 of the 30 wickets fell to straight balls. Test cricket is about trusting your defence. Lack of application ensured it was a quick finish," Kohli said.

Topics mentioned in this article

India Cricket Team England Cricket Team India vs England 2020-21 India vs England, 3rd Test Cricket