Gautam Gambhir, Morne Morkel involved in 'pitch matters' before ENG Tests, drag curator after internal meeting

India head coach Gautam Gambhir held an internal strategy meeting with the support staff before delivering detailed instructions to the ground staff. Gambhir approached Josh Marden, the curator in Kent, requesting pitches that replicate the conditions expected throughout the five Test matches.

India A have concluded their two-match series against the England Lions, with both games ending in draws. They will take on the senior India team, led by Shubman Gill, in the only official warm-up fixture. The intra-squad clash is scheduled to begin this Friday at the Beckenham County Ground.

Gautam Gambhir and Others Spoke to Us - Josh Marden

India’s team management held an internal meeting on Tuesday, where head coach Gautam Gambhir and bowling coach Morne Morkel gave a clear plan.

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Following the meeting, Gambhir requested the pitch curator Josh Marden to create a surface that replicates the conditions expected during the tour. Marden confirmed receiving detailed input from the coaching staff.

“Yes, the coaching staff, including Gautam Gambhir and others, spoke to us after their internal meeting," Marden told Revsportz.

“Their message was clear: ‘We want a good pitch.’ Not something too flat or too green, but something that will genuinely help with match preparation. They wanted more realistic conditions, not just batting drills. So we adjusted a few things, grass cover, net width, length extensions. The feedback has been great since then."

The Soil Here Naturally Plays Batter-Friendly - Josh Marden

India are currently training on a batting-friendly surface, but pitch curator Josh Marden stated that it still offers enough assistance for seamers. The practice pitches used by both India and Australia in Kent have slightly more grass compared to typical white-ball tracks.

"Yes, and no. The soil here naturally plays batter-friendly, so visually, the wicket may look dry or flat. But we manage grass density, not just what you see, but how thick it is," Marden revealed.

"The pitches currently used by India and Australia have slightly more grass than our usual white-ball surfaces. It's a subtle balance. Even with a brown surface, there's enough life in it for seamers, if you hit the right length," he added.

Team India to Face India A in Intra-Squad Match at Beckenham on June 13

India are set to commence their campaign in the new ICC World Test Championship cycle with a five-match Test series in England. The 18-member senior squad will play a four-day intra-squad match against India A at Beckenham, starting on June 13.

KL Rahul, who joined India A before the match, impressed with scores of 116 in the first innings and 51 in the second. Karun Nair scored a double century (204 off 281) in the first game, giving the selectors something to think about ahead of the series opener at Headingley in Leeds on June 20.

India have not won a Test series in England since 2007. Their most recent series in England ended in a 2-2 draw during the 2021–22 tour.

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