India vs NZ: Cool Dharamsala could offer slight advantage to medium pacers

The pitch has a greenish tinge, indicating a fair bit of grass has been left on it, but then two days of rolling and final trimming on Saturday can turn it into a belter.

The pitch has often been a bone of contention in India, with a debate raging on home advantage. Often eclipsing the action in the middle, the India-New Zealand Test series saw three types of pitches — a spinning Kanpur track to a slightly lively one in Kolkata. This was followed by a dual-paced wicket in Indore.

Indian players warm up during a training session on the eve of the first ODI match against New Zealand. (PTI Photo)

At the start of the ODI series, the pitch was back in the limelight. Curator Sunil Chauhan, who collects autographs of skippers who visit the ground, was reluctant to give anything away. “We are trying to give an ideal one-day wicket which will suit everyone”, was all he said. Pressed further, he went on, “

The pitch has a greenish tinge, indicating a fair bit of grass has been left on it, but then two days of rolling and final trimming on Saturday can turn it into a belter.

Even during the World T20 in March here, the pitches were slow with batsman facing difficulty in going through with their shots. But at that point, the pitches had already seen a fair bit of action with the domestic season being played out. “This time, we haven’t played any major match so the pitch is fresh,” said Chauhan.

Chauhan said dipping temperatures could help the pacers get more swing. “The temperatures are dipping and it might help the pacers get more purchase off the wicket and in the air.”