India and West Indies arrived in Ahmedabad this week to find a Test surface showing an even, bright-green coat of grass. Ground staff are expected to mow it again before Thursday’s start, yet curators reckon 4–5 mm will stay in place. For a country more used to dust and footmarks, that is a lot of grass.
What’s driving the decision?
The strip chosen for this Test sits on the red-soil half of the Narendra Modi Stadium square. Red soil gives true bounce, but only if it is “held together”, as one curator put it, by grass. Shave it too tight and the top dries, breaks up and quickly turns into the kind of raging turner on which India breezed past New Zealand in Mumbai last year, when spinners claimed 34 of 38 wickets. Leave a layer and the ball carries through for seamers while still offering enough to spinners later on.
Weather has helped. Heavy rain on Sunday and Monday meant the pitch sat under covers, locking in moisture. Tuesday cleared up, giving both squads an uninterrupted hit-out, but more showers are forecast for the opening morning.
Tactics and trade-offs
Under the World Test Championship’s points system, victory is worth 12, a draw just four. Not surprisingly, India have often gone for square turn so that R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja can run up quick wins. The risk, highlighted by New Zealand’s 3–0 upset last season, is that extreme spin can also drag visiting attacks closer to India’s level.
Opting for seam is hardly risk-free either. Bangalore last year stays fresh in Indian minds: asked to bat first on a lively surface, they were skittled for 46. Afterwards, Rohit Sharma admitted he “may have misread the conditions”.
So why gamble again? Partly because West Indies have arrived short-handed. Both Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph have broken down, leaving Jayden Seales to lead a much thinner pace unit alongside Justin Greaves, Anderson Phillip (average 72.50 from three Tests) and uncapped quicks Johann Layne and Jediah Blades. On paper at least, India’s faster bowlers – Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mukesh Kumar – should enjoy the grass more than their opposite numbers.
The curator’s balancing act
Red soil can crumble rapidly if it dries, so groundsmen prefer to leave grass “for binding”. One insider estimated that even with mowing the surface will stay greener than anything India have offered at home in the last couple of seasons. “We don’t want another three-day turner,” he said, stressing that the instruction from team management was simple: pace early, spin late.
How might the match play?
• New-ball burst: First sessions could resemble a Test in England – overcast forecast, fresh pitch, seam movement. Decision-making against the nip will be crucial; remember Bangalore.
• Old ball reward: Red soil and hot afternoons generally speed up deterioration. If the grass wears away by day three, suction cracks can widen quickly, and Ashwin v Kraigg Brathwaite may take centre stage after all.
• West Indies selection: With two leading quicks out, the visitors must weigh whether to play both uncapped seamers or beef up batting with an extra all-rounder. What they do at the toss may tell us how green they think the wicket really is.
Historical context
Ahmedabad was once known for slow burners, but the renovated, 132,000-capacity venue has offered more life since 2021. England were bowled out for 112 and 81 on a dustbowl back then; this pitch, though, is nothing like that. For India it is another experiment in balancing home advantage with WTC pragmatism.
Looking ahead
Rain on day one could reduce playing time yet also keep the surface lively. If the forecast clears, the match could still progress quickly – and India would gladly accept four full days of cricket if it ends in 12 precious points.
Either way, the green tinge at Motera suggests the series will start with seam rather than spin. That alone makes Thursday morning worth watching.
