The speculation surrounding the future actions of International Cricket Council (ICC) pitch consultant Andy Atkinson intensified as the robust New Zealander was conspicuously absent during the initial pitch preparations for the upcoming World Cup final between India and Australia.
Arriving on Friday afternoon, Atkinson, part of the ICC delegation, refrained from visiting the ground initially. An anonymous ICC source revealed, “Andy hasn’t gone back home. He has come with the ICC delegation and hence didn’t come to the ground. He will be available tomorrow (Saturday) to check on the preparation of the track.”
Atkinson’s relationship with the BCCI has been strained, especially after his accusation that the host nation altered the track for the India-New Zealand semifinal from a fresh to a used one. However, the ICC clarified that there is no such rule regarding knockout matches and that Atkinson was informed in advance.
On Friday, key BCCI figures, including chief of ground staff Ashish Bhowmick and his deputy Taposh Chatterjee, alongside former India seamer and BCCI’s GM (Domestic Cricket) Abey Kuruvilla, closely supervised the pitch preparations for the grand final on Sunday.
Details about whether the final’s track is used or fresh remained unconfirmed. The use of a heavy roller on the designated 22-yard strip was meticulously monitored by the senior curators and BCCI GM. A state association curator explained, “If a heavy roller is being used on a black soil strip, then the idea is to create a slow batting track where you can get a big score, but you possibly can’t consistently hit through the line.”
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, along with regulars K L Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, engaged in an extensive net session, accompanied by reserve players Ishan Kishan, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Prasidh Krishna. Following the customary practice, Rohit and head coach Rahul Dravid dedicated considerable time to inspecting the track and engaging in discussions with Bhowmick and Chatterjee.as
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