The cool atmosphere and the potential for rain on the first day might evoke a sense of familiarity for England, but the Indian captain swiftly characterized the whitish-brown pitch, lacking any grass, as distinctly 'typically Indian.'
The buzz surrounding Dharamsala intensifies ahead of the fifth and final Test between India and England, scheduled to commence on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium, as the statement, "It is going to be a used pitch from last month’s Ranji Trophy game," reverberates. Yet, it's not just the wicket that has grabbed attention; the focus is on the weather conditions in Dharamsala. The chilly climate, reminiscent of England, has drawn a substantial number of English visitors eager to witness their team play 'Bazball' in India one last time for the next two to three years.
Dharamsala pitch two days before game time pic.twitter.com/GlnMV9xsgd
— Bharat Sharma (@sharmabharat45) March 5, 2024
Jonny Bairstow, set to mark his 100th Test for the English side, noted that being a used pitch, it is likely to provide minimal assistance to seamers, with spinners expected to dominate once again
Bairstow, in anticipation of the fifth Test in Dharamsala, shared insights about the pitch, stating, "It's a used pitch from the Ranji Trophy last month… let’s see. Ground staff have done an amazing job with the pitch considering the weather we have had here," during a conversation with a reporter on the eve of the match.
Contrastingly, Indian captain Rohit Sharma expressed optimism about the wicket, describing it as resembling any other Indian pitch upon first inspection. In a pre-match press conference on March 5 at Dharamsala, he envisioned a sporting pitch with initial and late movement, typical of Indian conditions.
The Dharamsala Test pitch, marred by rain hindering curatorial efforts, spent over a week under covers before being exposed to the sun for two days prior to the match. Rainfall predicted on the matchday could add moisture to the wicket. The loamy soil composition might initially slow down the pitch, but sustained moisture could aid pacers in the opening two days and when cloud cover prevails. As the sun dominates later, batting becomes favorable, prompting a consideration for fielding first due to the weather's influence. In sunny conditions, batting first remains the preferred choice.
Despite its picturesque setting, the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala has hosted only one Test, with India boasting a 100% winning record from the 2017 match against Australia, where they successfully chased down a target of 106 with eight wickets in hand. England, having not played a Test here, clinched victory in an ODI against Bangladesh during the ODI World Cup 2023, highlighting the venue's limited international cricket history.
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