Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has weighed in on the recent row between Gautam Gambhir and The Oval’s pitch curator, siding with Gambhir’s concerns while pointing out that England’s move may have handed a significant edge to Team India.
The controversy erupted after Gambhir, now India’s head coach, reportedly questioned The Oval curator about preparing a dry, turning track for India’s Test against England in London. While some accused Gambhir of interference, Ashwin has come out in support of his former teammate’s stance, noting that pitch conditions are a critical part of strategy — and England may have inadvertently tilted the balance in India’s favour.
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“When you’re playing a strong Indian side, especially in overseas conditions, you’d want to exploit your own home advantage. But preparing a dry surface at The Oval seems counterintuitive — it plays right into India’s hands,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin, who has often thrived on spin-friendly surfaces, suggested that the dry pitch might accelerate wear and tear, aiding Indian spinners like himself and Ravindra Jadeja. “If it starts turning from Day 3, it’s game on. England have essentially given India a serious advantage,” he added.
This development also touches on the wider issue of pitch politics in international cricket. Gambhir’s approach may be new in terms of direct communication with curators abroad, but Ashwin defended the move, calling it “proactive coaching” rather than meddling.
“Every team does what they can to win, including influencing pitch preparation at home. So, why is it wrong if an Indian coach asks questions about the surface abroad?” Ashwin questioned.
The Oval, traditionally a venue offering true bounce and pace early on before assisting spinners later, might now become a battleground for spin from much earlier in the match. And with England’s middle order under scrutiny for their spin vulnerabilities, this could turn the tide in India’s favour.
With the Test series finely poised, all eyes will be on how the pitch plays — and whether England’s supposed misstep becomes India’s masterstroke.
