Last Update: January 31, 2023, 09:42 AM IST
Hardik Pandya and New Zealand captain Tom Latham during the toss during the 2nd T20 match in Lucknow.
Earlier, India had achieved the target of 100 runs in Lucknow after which Pandya criticized the pitch. The statement also referred to the previous match in Ranchi, where India failed to chase down a target of 177.
Lucknow’s pitch curator has been removed following vociferous complaints from Indian cricket team captain Hardik Pandya, who described the pitch as a ‘shocker of a wicket’. According to Indian Express, Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) sources have confirmed that the person concerned has been removed with immediate effect as Sanjeev Agarwal has taken over from Gwalior with IPL 2023.
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before, India Pandya criticized the pitch after reaching the target of 100 runs in Lucknow. The statement also referred to the previous match in Ranchi, where India failed to chase down a target of 177.
“All the games (pitches) we have played so far (have been surprising). I don’t mind difficult wickets. I am all set for it, but both these wickets are not made for T20s. Somewhere down the line, the curator or the ground where we are going to play should ensure that they get the pitches ready first,” he said.
India’s bowling coach Paras Mhambrey reiterated the same point.
“The curator is the right person to answer that question (on the pitch),” he said.
“There was some grass in the middle, but no grass at either end. When we came in yesterday it looked like it would take a turn and we felt it would be challenging. Lucknow Super Giants IPL franchise mentor Gautam Gambhir called it a “lousy wicket” on Star Play studio.
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According to sources, the curator had already prepared two pitches of black soil for the game. However, three days before the match, at the last minute request of the team management, the curators were asked to prepare a new pitch made of red clay instead. The Indian Express report stated that the new pitch could not be prepared adequately at short notice, and this also led to slow conditions.
With the series now tied at 1-1, the Indian team led by Hardik Pandya reached Ahmedabad for the series decider. The second game on Sunday was low scoring but still a nail-biter. The chase of 100 initially looked easy, but the situation turned grim when the New Zealand spinners started to settle. However, a match-winning partnership between skipper Hardik Pandya and vice-captain Suryakumar Yadav saw the hosts reach home safely.
The Indian team reached Ahmedabad on Monday for the last match of the New Zealand series. The team members were accorded a traditional welcome at the hotel.
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