The 50-over World Cup is lingering just around the corner. Few sleeps and we will land directly into the most awaited cricketing event. There are 10 World Cup venues this edition, though Pakistan will get to walk on 5 of these (6 if Pakistan survives till the semis).
How are the World Cup venues going to be?
But how do each of these pitches play? Will we see devilishly green grass on the surface? Or will the pitches be dry and dusty to make the spinners jump out of their skin?
Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium
The venue for the opener. The venue for Pakistan vs India. And the venue for the Final match of the tourney. Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad holds treasures for batters.
Hitting the deck will be key for bowlers here. Spinners usually do not get a lot of assistance and in the presence of dew (which is very likely during the second innings) the tweakers, especially wrist spinners, will get tested severely.
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Potentially the most difficult of the World Cup venues. Made up of the same stuff as a spinner’s dreams. Chepauk, as they call the stadium, is heaven in India for spinners especially during the day. The pitch does not have plenty of green on it and so the tweakers cash on the demons in the pitch to deceive batters.
Batters can hope for amassing runs here as well as the boundary length is not too gigantic. Later in the innings though, willows will find it difficult to time the dispatching of the ball correctly owing to the deterioration of the pitch.
To no cricket fan’s amusement, October and November are the wettest months in Chennai, making wet outfield and damp conditions very much probable during the event.
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Good bounce and pace help batters plunder runs at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Some call it even flatter than Ahmedabad. A perfect batting pitch that also assists pacers, especially when the ball is new. One can expect a high-scoring match here. If a team is bowling first, they need to send a few batsmen in before the ball wears.
Middle overs will be the toughest here for the bowling side making it a classical belter pitch. Although spinners would like to opt out of bowling here, the post-monsoon weather can offer them very little help.
Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium, Delhi
Also known as Firoz Shah Kotla, the stadium in Delhi can not be a contender for the top most picturesque World Cup venues. However, the balanced conditions for batters and bowlers it offers, make the games played here interesting.
A true representative of a subcontinent pitch. It aids spinners but also has true bounce for batters. The surface is somewhat slow, making it equally challenging for both departments. The turf is usually bald. Early breakthroughs are a key here for the bowling side.
Himachal Pradesh Stadium, Dharamshala
Himalayas in the background, draped in thick layers of clouds and sunshine illuminating each feature of this scenic ground. Ice-capped mountains sit in the stands to see players play on a pitch that very much resembles those down under.
The pitch of HPCA has everything for a pacer. The black soil pitches give bounce while the cool climate makes sure that seam and swing here are deadlier than cyanide.
The altitude factor not only allows the pacers to shoot thunderbolts but also helps batters thwack the balls aerially.
Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
The stadium in Lucknow stirred controversy earlier this year after the home team’s second T20I against New Zealand. During the game, the pitch offered no assistance to batters whatsoever. This saw the pitch curator getting sacked, and new men coming in to make the deck more conducive for batters.
No International match, since then, has taken place here. A few IPL matches also hinted that the pitch remains unapologetically rank-turner.
Fast bowlers will get assistance as well. Low-scoring totals can be expected on this ground.
Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Hyderabad
Pakistan is slated to play both of its warm-up matches and first two World Cup matches in the Hyderabad stadium. The hot weather here will take the dew factor out of the conversation in the second innings, something not usually seen across Indian venues. Nevertheless, batting first is desired more here as the deterioration of the ground makes it difficult to judge the ball later in the match.
The deck, although not very flat, allows the batters to put up decent scores on the board. Spinners and pacers will be elated to roll their arms over under the lights.
Maharashtra Stadium, Pune
Pune is a heaven for batters, like most of its compatriots. There is a true bounce here thanks to the black soil pitches, much to batters’ glee. Seamers get assistance in the early stages of the game but during the middle, the batters are often seen clearing the gaps with ease. Spinners, especially, in the middle stages will get a few strikes and be handy in surviving the torment of middle overs.
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Pakistan will spend some of their time playing here. The pitch generally offers balanced help to both batters and bowlers. Traditionally, Kolkata aided spinners more. However, green tops have been used in a few matches recently, which provided incredible seam movement.
Batters exploit the bounce it offers to judge the ball accurately and bludgeon the ball toward the gaps. An interesting contest between bat and ball can be expected here.
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Although Pakistan has no scheduled match at the Mumbai Stadium, one of the semi-finals is set to be played here. And so, the sky of Mumbai can see the men in green playing under it, if all goes well. Wankhede Stadium has a lot in it for batters. Pacers, too, enjoy bowling here. In their arsenal, swing will be the most lethal here because of the Arabian sea breeze and can help batters in easily.
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