Nagpur’s pitch curator Praveen Hingnikar is sure that the pitch would be a sporting when hosts India and Australia lock horns in the fifth and final One-day international (ODI) on Sunday (October 1) at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium (VCA) which is a dead rubber.
“It will be a very sporting wicket,” Hingnikar was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
However, India is already having an unassailable lead of 3-1 following the spectacular all-round performance, as the spectators are expecting another high scoring game while players are donning colours.
The Maharashtra-born 51-year-old Hingnikar revealed the side has to put a decent score on the scoreboard, in a bid to make it a fascinating contest, before going into the three-match Twenty20 series slated from October 7 at JCA Stadium in Ranchi.
Moreover, the former first-class cricketer reiterated the wicket is bound to play a significant part in both the innings.
“What’s required is the team to put runs on the board,” Hingnikar maintained.
As the wicket is expected to help both batsmen and bowlers, Hingnikar subsequently promised the conditions are bound to be ideal for hundred overs.
“It will provide equal opportunity for both the team. Be it spinners or seamers, no one would have an added advantage come Sunday,” Hingnikar asserted.
The veteran pitch curator Hingnikar went on to say the toss wouldn’t play any vital role between the competitive teams.
“I don’t think the toss will have a major role to play given this is a true wicket,” Hingnikar added.
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In 2016 Twenty20 World Cup fixture, the pitch had demons in it when hosts India was skittled out for 79 while chasing New Zealand’s 127.
In 2015, the World Cricket governing body had noticed the pitch management when the Test match between hosts India and visitors South Africa was wrapped inside three days.
After banking on the surface to stay true throughout, the stadium would grab thousands of eyeballs after Hingnikar alongside his members has put untiring efforts to get the 22-yard surface ready for the One-day fixture.
“We’ve been working on the pitch for the past 10-12 days, although we had to halt our work in between because of heavy downpour. We’ll be covering the entire ground in the night just in case it rains,” Hingnikar.
However, the stadium is expected to draw large crowds, as the satisfaction for the fans is that weather forecast is no rain during the coming game.
Pertinently, after rain affected three matches except third ODI held in Indore on September 24, the former all-rounder Hingnikar, who was also donning gloves for the domestic side Vidarbha predicted the score between 270 and 300.
“Luckily, there is no forecast of rain; even if it does rain, we are prepared to tackle the situation given our surface and underground drainage are up to the mark,” Hingnikar remarked.
As World ranked No.1 side Team India’s skipper Virat Kohli would be looking forward to introducing benched players, Steven Smith, on the other hand, has only aimed to finish the series on a high note after Bengaluru win.
Hingnikar has featured in 52 first-class fixtures and 17 List-A matches. He bagged 47 scalps in four-day format and seven wickets in the One-day format.
While having three hundreds and 16 fifties under his belt, the former right-hander Hingnikar scored 2,805 runs between 1983 and 1996 respectively.