The pitch at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru– venue for the second and final Test match between India and Sri Lanka last week – has been rated ‘below average’. The rating has been given by Javagal Srinath, the ICC match referee, in his report to the world governing body. As a result, the venue, which hosted its maiden Day/Night Test encounter was docked one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process. The low-scoring contest ended within three days with the home side registering a commanding 238-run victory over the Islanders. The pitch, a rank turner from Day 1, drew a lot of flak after 16 wickets fell on the opening day.
Of the 39 wickets that fell on either side, the spinners accounted for 26, with India’s lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah being the most successful fast bowler with a match haul of eight wickets. In his report, Srinath, a former pacer himself, noted, “The p itch offered a lot of turn on the first day itself and though it improved with every session, in my view, it was not an even contest between bat and ball. ”
