IND vs AUS: The venue for the highly anticipated third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been shifted from Dharamsala to Indore. This change was prompted by the unavailability of the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala due to harsh winter conditions which have caused the stadium’s outfield to lack sufficient grass density and to need time to recover.
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Dharamshala ground not ready for IND vs AUS
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had narrowed down the choice of venues for the third Test to Indore and Rajkot after conducting an evaluation of the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala and finding it unsuitable for hosting the match. The BCCI inspection panel visited the ground on February 11 and noted several bare patches on the outfield, which was relaid recently to install a new drainage system.
Furthermore, the fact that the venue had not hosted any cricket since the two T20Is between India and Sri Lanka last February was another issue. The official statement by the BCCI read, “Owing to harsh winter conditions in the region, the outfield [at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala] lacks sufficient grass density and will need some time to develop fully.”
India’s track record at Holkar Stadium, Indore
Indore’s Holkar Cricket Stadium, on the other hand, has a proven track record of hosting successful Tests. The stadium has hosted two Tests in the past, both against New Zealand in 2016 and Bangladesh in 2019, with India emerging victorious in both matches by huge margins. The stadium has also been the site of impressive individual performances, with R Ashwin taking 18 wickets in two Tests, including match figures of 13 for 140 against New Zealand. Virat Kohli also made a mark in Indore by scoring 211 runs in the same match.
With the third Test set to take place on March 1, following the conclusion of the second Test in Delhi, India will aim to maintain their dominance over Australia. India won the first Test in Nagpur and currently leads the series by 1-0.
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