Ranji Trophy: Moti Bagh pitch in Vadodara under scanner after 40 wickets fall in 7 sessions

FILE PHOTO: Moti Bagh stadium

The Ranji Trophy match between Baroda and Madhya Pradesh at the Moti Bagh pitch in Vadodara, which Baroda won by 246 runs today, saw 40 wickets fall in seven sessions in just over two days.

BCCI is now mulling an inspection after reports of an ‘unsporting’ pitch emerged.

Brief Scores: Baroda (152 & 244) beat Madhya Pradesh (60 & 90) by 246 runs

On a pitch that turned from first session itself, 36 wickets were taken by spinners. Ishwar Pandey, who took the rest of the 4 wickets, was the only pacer amidst wickets.

However, groundsman Vishvjeet Sinh Padhiyar has blamed the flurry of wickets on the impatience show by batsmen, rather than pitch condition.

“The ball was taking turn. The bounce was good. Baroda made 244 in the second innings. [In contrast] Madhya Pradesh batsmen did not show the patience,” said Padhiyar to ESPNCricinfo. He also said that none of the match officials had raised a concern about the pitch.

In the 2nd innings, amidst the flurry of wickets, Yusuf Pathan hit a century and was involved in a 72-run partnership with No. 11 Munaf Patel.

Even Madhya Pradesh coach, Mukesh Sahni conceded that though the pitch was turning earlier than expected, and the blame lay with his team’s batsmen rather than the curator.

“The wicket is not proper in terms of the spin it took straightaway from the first session but it is fine as both teams played on the same pitch,” Sahni said. “We played bad shots.”

BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel, also from Baroda, said though there wasn’t anything alarming in the pitch, he has asked the board’s ground and pitches committee to submit a report on it.

“The BCCI ground and pitches committee will write to the Baroda Cricket Association asking for a report for certain. The ball is turning too early,” another senior board official said. “The BCCI directive has been to ask curator to prepare pitches where there should be gradual wear and tear. Such pitches need to be looked into by the ground and pitches committee.”