5 Difficult Rank Turners This Decade: The pitch used for the third Test in Indore is a raging turner. India is in dire straits in the first session of the Test. The average turn in the first hour of the Test was 4.8 degrees. It was a significant jump as compared to the first two Tests in Nagpur and Delhi. Deliveries have kicked from a good length testing batters on both edges. The pitch is dry, and abrasive, and is set to deteriorate even further. These wickets aren’t new in Indian conditions.
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We look at 5 such difficult rank turners this decade in India:
#1 IND vs ENG, Mumbai – 2012
The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai was the host for the second Test in the series against England in 2012. India held a 1-0 lead going into this Test. The home side prepared a rank turner for the second Test. Little did they know what was in store. England’s spin duo of Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar ran through the Indian side.
It was the speed at which these spinners bowled that caught the Indian batters found wanting. India suffered a shock defeat to England. They went on to concede the series at Kolkata later. It was the last time that India lost a home series.
#2 IND vs AUS, Delhi – 2013
The Indian team had already retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy heading onto the fourth Test. India had set their sights on a whitewash. The pitch at Ferozeshah Kotla was a fast-turner. Australia batting first scored 262. India in reply scored 272. It was down to a second innings shootout. Ravindra Jadeja picked up a fiver to dismiss Australia for 264. Cheteshwar Pujara led India’s response with aplomb chasing the score of 155 in 31.2 overs.
#3 IND vs SA, Nagpur – 2015
It was for the first time that India seem to be pretty keen on playing on rank turners throughout the series. The wicket at the Jamtha, Nagpur was a treacherous one. India scored 215 batting first. South Africa was bowled out for 79 in the first innings. India set up a target of 309 in the final innings. The Proteas though could just manage 185 in response. It was one of the most lopsided spin domination seen in India in recent times.
#4 IND vs AUS, Pune – 2017
It was another Test match where a square turner backfired on India. Australia won an important toss and batted first. They posted 260 in the first essay. Steve O’Keefe then spun a web around Indian batsmen. He picked 6-35 to leave India in tatters. India was bowled out for 105. Steve Smith scored a brilliant century in the second innings to put a total behind India’s reach. O’Keefe returned identical figures of 6-35 in the second innings too as Australia hammered India.
#5 IND vs ENG, Ahmedabad – 2021
It was the third Test match of the series. The Narendra Modi Stadium was hosting its first Test match. India had levelled the series 1-1 going into the third Test. It was the pink ball Test match but sadly the spectacle lasted just a couple of days. The highest score posted across four innings was India’s 145. There was a lot of criticism around the pitch and how the pink ball made life difficult. But India’s spinners ensured India avoid embarrassment.
