Introduction
Pitches that make batting a gamble can actually help the opposing team’s spinners. Let’s explore how India’s preference for turning tracks might not be as beneficial as they think.
Indian Players and Pitches
Indian cricketers often dislike discussing home pitches. They want to avoid negative labels like “dustbowls” or “rank turners.” However, they often want turning pitches for their matches, even as they claim they don’t control pitch preparation, which is sometimes hard to believe.
During the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup, many pitches seemed to cater to India, showing that they may have influenced conditions to suit their playing style. This isn’t unusual in sports; home teams often seek an edge by requesting pitches that benefit their strengths.
The Impact of Spin-Friendly Pitches
Some argue that the pitches India played on against New Zealand actually weakened their home advantage. Over the past 12 years, India has lost seven home Tests, four of which were on pitches that greatly favored spinners. Their recent losses include a notable defeat in Chennai against Joe Root, which prompted a stronger push for turning tracks right from the start of the match.
While some believe that turning pitches make the toss less important, statistics suggest otherwise. For example, a pitch in Mumbai took a while before it began to turn significantly, which gave batting teams some time to score runs before the spinners became effective.
Losing Tosses and Batting Challenges
India’s batting line-up struggles when they lose the toss. In the last two Tests against New Zealand, if they had won the toss, they likely would have performed better. The opposition gets around three hours of good batting conditions before the pitch starts to deteriorate.
Key Stats:
- Since 2017, India’s spinners average 16.37 runs per wicket on turning pitches while visiting spinners average 22.91.
- However, on pitches with less turn (where spinners average over 24), Indian spinners average 26.22, while visiting spinners average a high 57.04.
The Risk of Favoring Turners
By pushing for pitches that turn from day one, India risks leveling the playing field for visiting spinners, who can thrive under these conditions. Notably, several visiting spinners have taken their first five-wicket hauls in India, indicating that turning tracks can benefit them too.
In recent years, India’s strategy of favoring extreme turners may have backfired. While it is understandable to want an advantage at home, it’s crucial to recognize that playing on turning pitches might actually hurt their overall performance. With strong leadership from coaches like Rahul Dravid and captains like Rohit Sharma, India has had success on more balanced pitches. Striking a balance between bravery and strategy could be the key to improving their results moving forward.