Having Moaned About Pitches In India, It Won't Be A Surprise If England Leaves A Little Grass On The Surface - Sunil Gavaskar

Former captain Sunil Gavaskar says that it won’t be surprising if England prepares green tops when they host Virat Kohli’s side for the 5-Test series in August-September after “moaning” about the turning tracks in their series loss earlier in India in the year.

In February-March, India defeated Joe Root’s side by a 3-1 scoreline, thumping them in the ground with victories in the second Chennai Test, and the two Tests in Ahmedabad – all of three which were heavily assisting spinners.

Hence, Sunil Gavaskar reckons England will look to make use of their home conditions and seamers when they host India. However, the 71-year old also opines that the prospect of playing on pace-friendly pitches isn’t intimidating to the Asian giants anymore, as now they have a cartel of fast bowlers who have dominated world cricket in the last three years.

“Having moaned about the pitches in India earlier this year, it won’t be a surprise if the groundsman in England leaves a little grass on the surface. That is no longer a worry as India have an attack that will also thrive on it and cause problems for the England batsmen too,” Sunil Gavaskar wrote in his column in The Telegraph.

It looks like it will be an Indian summer in England: Sunil Gavaskar

Ahead of the Test series with England starting August 4, the Indian team will meet New Zealand in the WTC final from 18th June in Southampton.

Sunil Gavaskar remarks that the entire month of July would be enough for the side to acclimatize themselves with the conditions and settle them in the English weather. The former opener predicts that the Virat Kohli-led outfit will come out trumps this summer in the UK.

“The summer in England promises to be the golden summer of Indian cricket. After the WTC finals there is a gap of about six weeks before the Test series starts against England and that should be enough for the team to play some practice games and tune up for what England can hurl at them.

“It is foolish to try and predict the score but it looks like it will be an Indian summer in England,” the right-hander stated.

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