As India prepares to face New Zealand in the first Test match in Bengaluru, all eyes are on the rain, which has flooded the city. With a weather system brewing in the Bay of Bengal, there are concerns about how the pitch will behave. Will it help spinners or fast bowlers? Surprisingly, it no longer matters for India’s world-class team.
In the past, there was a lot of talk about how the pitch would affect the game. But today, Rohit Sharma’s team is so strong that they don’t rely on pitch conditions. Whether the ball spins or swings, they adapt and win. Rain or sunshine, this Indian team is ready to face any challenge.
Unlike years ago, there’s no need for India to tweak the pitch to favor their strengths. India’s bowlers, whether spinners or pacers, are among the best in the world. They don’t need the pitch to help them dominate the game. Rohit’s squad is balanced and adaptable, and the days of worrying about turning pitches are behind them.
Coach Rahul Dravid has led India away from relying heavily on spin-friendly pitches. This shift began when India’s pace attack wasn’t as strong, and they had to depend on spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. But now, the team has matured, and fast bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have become key players. The team no longer needs to rely on “turners”—pitches that help spinners.
India’s spinners are still deadly, but they don’t need the ball to turn a lot to take wickets. At the same time, India’s fast bowlers have become a nightmare for opponents, often stealing the spotlight from the spinners on any surface.
Interestingly, India’s batsmen have struggled against spin on turning tracks in recent years, except for Rohit Sharma. The days when Indian batsmen easily dominated spinners are gone. Now, even lesser-known bowlers from other countries have troubled them.
So, as the Bengaluru Test begins, the focus will be less on the pitch and more on the weather. India’s bowlers are ready to perform, rain or shine, spin or pace, and the team is no longer dependent on pitch conditions for success.
