Team India will be looking to continue their impressive run in the home conditions when they lock horns against Bangladesh in the first Test of the two-match series at Holkar Stadium in Indore scheduled to commence on Thursday. After the South Africa series, Indian skipper Virat Kohli had asked the BCCI to identify five centers for Test cricket in India in order to start a culture that will help nurture the longest format in India.
Ahead of the first Test, Kohli reiterated the point and clarified that his statements were not meant for any specific city or Test venue, but it was more aimed towards making Test cricket a brand in India.
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Clarifying his earlier statement, talking to the reporters on Wednesday, Kohli said, “If you see the ratio – there is a good crowd in Indore, but then there are other places where people did not turn up. So you cannot give matches to one stadium and not to the other grounds. When we go overseas, we know we will play in Sydney, MCG. Perth and Brisbane. So we know what to expect, the different types of crowds and these things only help foster a culture.”
He further elaborated, “Indore is a place where you will not find even one vacant seat for T20s, there might still be few empty seats for Tests, hence, this is a proposal which is not meant to take matches away from any venue. It is also not about criticizing any city. This is all part of a vision that is aimed at taking Test cricket to a higher pedestal. We are all trying to figure out ways and means to keep Test cricket vibrant and according to me, this was one of the options. Let’s see now how it is executed in the future.”
In contrast to the practice in England, Australia, or South Africa, which have traditional Test venues, matches in India are allotted on the basis of the rotational policy and this was what Kohli had asked to be done away with after the South Africa series.
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Kohli further added, “And, in my opinion, we should have five centers for Test cricket. Period. I agree that you have State associations, rotation, and giving games and all that… That is fine in T20 and ODI cricket, but for Test cricket teams coming into India should know we’re going to play at these five centers. These are the pitches we’re going to expect. These are the kind of people they’re going to come to watch, crowds.”
