Team India’s batters were tested by a rank turner and failed in the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens, but the red-soil pitch for the second fixture at Guwahati’s Barsapara Cricket Stadium will be a sporting one, reckons Assam’s Ranji team skipper Sumit Ghadigaonkar.
Guwahati, the home city of BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, will be hosting its maiden Test, becoming the 28th Test venue in the country.
Ghadigaonkar, who has played a lot of cricket at this ground, believes the pacers will enjoy bowling even after the first session on the opening day. “I don’t know on which pitch this Test will be played, but whichever pitch it will be, it will have a good, even bounce, where initially there will be moisture till around an hour after the first session on Day One. Whenever we play here, whoever wins the toss, chooses to bowl first,” Ghadigaonkar, who led from the front, scoring 53 and 67 to help Assam draw their Elite Group ‘C’ Ranji Trophy match against Bengal at Kalyani on Wednesday, told mid-day on Thursday.
Sumit Ghadigaonkar and Trevor Gonsalves
Fast outfield
Santacruz-based Ghadigaonkar, who plays club cricket for Matunga’s New Hind Sporting Club and leads the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in Mumbai’s office cricket tournaments, added that the Barsapara ground’s outfield is pretty fast too. “This is our [Assam] home ground. It’s a nice ground and has good infrastructure. The outfield is very fast. After getting settled, most batsmen have enjoyed batting. So, if the batsman can deal with the bowlers initially and till around an hour after the first session, I’m sure there’s a good chance to score big,” added Ghadigaonkar, who scored 107 against Railways at this venue in a Ranji match last season and was also East Zone’s highest run-getter with 633 runs.
Meanwhile, Trevor Gonsalves, who was Assam’s Ranji team head coach for two seasons (2022 to 2024), felt the pitch will offer equal opportunities to all.
‘Pacers will have their share’
“It’s a very sporting wicket. In the morning, the pacers have their share, while in the afternoon, batsmen will have a good chance, and as the game progresses it [pitch] will start turning. Spinners will surely come into play, after the first or second day, but they will have to bowl well. If you make a mistake, you will be punished. Overall this is a very good Test wicket. It won’t be a rank turner,” said Gonsalves.
The former Vidarbha pacer, who is currently guiding IPL side Punjab Kings as assistant bowling coach, also insisted that the Guwahati Test will last all five days: “Barsapara has been a very good ground with a nice drainage system. The dressing room and practice area are very good. And the wicket will easily last five days.”
