Debashis Chakraborty, Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) secretary, has dismissed reports suggesting India skipper Virat Kohli would have the final say on the pitch for the upcoming third Test against Australia in Ranchi.

Chief curator SB Singh has prepared three wickets for the crucial tie – all with different characteristics – and an Australian news outlet has claimed the curator will give Kohli the luxury of picking the pitch for the penultimate Test of the four-match series.

However, Singh has quashed all the speculations. Talking to The Times of India, he said:

“It’s true that we have prepared three pitches -No. 4, 5 & 7 for the match.But I have never said anything about Kohli being allowed to have his say on the pitch for the match.”

SB Singh’s claim was further backed by Debashis Chakraborty. The JSCA secretary said the officials will take a final decision on the pitch and not the India skipper.

“SB Singh is right. We have nine pitches here at the stadium of which three have been prepared for this Test as is the norm with any other association hosting a Test match. Once the officials come here, they will choose which pitch to play on. All the three pitches on offer have been used this season,” Chakraborty said.

When asked about the nature of the pitch, Chakraborty said:

“Whether the pitch is flat or a turner, will only be known when the match is played. Generally in the ODIs, the par score here is 250 and the pitch provides turn as the game progresses. Since it is the first Test the city is going to host, we would like it to be a five-day affair.”

The series is currently locked at 1-1 and both teams will be keen to take an unassailable lead when the match begins on March 16.