If you are wondering about the Dharamsala pitch report, then your excitement is understandable. Because Dharamsala is the most pace-friendly Test venue in India.
The India vs England fifth Test will kick start on Thursday. India lead the series 3-1. And while England have named two pacers – Mark Wood and James Anderson – in their XI, India skipper Rohit Sharma has kept the cards close to his heart, indicating that India could play three pacers for the first time in this series, given the overcast conditions in Dharamsala and the records here in domestic cricket.
If India do go with a third seamer – Jasprit Bumrah is back, and Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep are his pace bowling partners – then Kuldeep Yadav will face the axe.
Dharamsala pitch report:
According to experts, the Dharamsala pitch for the India vs England fifth Test is set to offer a significant amount of help to fast bowlers. There is overcast conditions with rain predicted for day 1, and the pitch will have good carry and bounce.
Talking about the Ranji matches here this season, the pacers have outbowled spinners.
As per the stats in ESPNcricinfo, in 4 Ranji matches in Dharamsala, pacers bowled 814 overs and took 122 wickets at an average of 23, while spinners bowled 122.2 overs to take only 7 wickets at 58. This is a huge disparity, making the Dharamsala pitch like we see generally in South Africa.
Overall, in 49 first-class matches in Dharamsala, fast bowlers average 27, which is much better to spinners’ average of 41 here.
There has been rain in Dharamsala in the lead-up to the match and it’s forecasted for Thursday as well, and cool temperatures are expected throughout the game, meaning that the pacers won’t get tired too. Considering such conditions, Rohit Sharma said India will ponder over playing a third seamer.
“Certainly. Why shouldn’t [a third seamer] come in?” Rohit Sharma said in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday. “If we feel the weather is going to be like this, there is a good chance. We’ve not yet completely decided on it, but there is a good chance – definitely.”
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