NAGPUR: The third Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been shifted from Dharamsala to Indore. “The third Test of the Mastercard Australia tour of India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, originally scheduled to take place at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala from 1st to 5th March has now been moved to Holkar Stadium, Indore,” read a statement issued by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday.
“Owing to harsh winter conditions in the region, the outfield lacks sufficient grass density and will need some time to develop fully,” added the BCCI’s statement. An inspection team visited the Dharamsala venue on Sunday and handed its report to the Indian cricket board following which the decision to change the venue was taken.
India lead the series 1-0 after routing visitors Australia by an innings and 123 runs inside three days in the first match held in Nagpur. The next match is scheduled to begin in Delhi on February 17. At least five venues were under consideration once concerns were raised over the condition of the outfield at the Dharamsala ground. The BCCI then narrowed down the choice to Indore and Rajkot.
The former was eventually handed the opportunity as it is believed that the Indian team management preferred it over Rajkot. “Opinion of the Indian team management was sought before arriving at the conclusion. They favoured Indore,” said a source in the know of the things. The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot has hosted two Tests so far with the home team drawing one (vs England in November 2016) and winning the other (vs West Indies in Oct 2018). Indore’s Holkar Cricket Stadium has also hosted two Tests so far with the hosts winning both (vs New Zealand in October 2016 and vs Bangladesh in November 2019).
“Indore has proved to be a very good venue as far as spectators’ response is concerned. Although the capacity is small (27,000), fans always throng the stadium to watch the contest in all formats. We have always proved to be a good host. In the end our credentials have won us the hosting right,” Abhilash Khandekar, president of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, told this daily.