Ahmedabad Pink Ball Test Ends in Two Days — Pitch Controversy

The third Test of the four-match series between India and England at the newly renamed Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in February 2021 became one of the most controversial pitches of the modern era. Originally Sardar Patel Stadium, the venue had been substantially rebuilt and reopened as the largest cricket stadium in the world with a capacity of approximately 132,000. The match was the first day-night Test held at the venue and only the second pink-ball Test ever staged in India. England arrived in Ahmedabad with the series tied at 1-1 after winning the opening Test in Chennai and India levelling on a sharply turning surface in the second. The Border-Gavaskar pattern that had been emerging since 2017 — of Indian groundsmen preparing surfaces designed to neutralise visiting fast bowlers and reward home spinners — was already a source of tension between the two boards and the international cricket commentariat. The pink ball, which behaves differently from the red ball under floodlights and tends to skid more off the surface, added a further complication. The match was played behind closed doors due to ongoing pandemic restrictions and the absence of crowds heightened the sense of an artificial spectacle as wickets tumbled at extraordinary speed.

England, who had been bowled out for 134 in the second innings of the second Test on a Chennai surface that drew complaints from visiting players, arrived in Ahmedabad apprehensive about the conditions. Joe Root, the England captain who had scored a double-century in the first Test, had publicly called for fairer surfaces. Indian coach Ravi Shastri and captain Virat Kohli responded that home advantage was a legitimate part of Test cricket and that England could not complain after benefiting from green seamers in their own conditions. Match referee Javagal Srinath, a former India fast bowler, was the official with responsibility for rating the surface. The pitch on the eve of the match looked dry and dusty in patches but was assessed by the broadcaster as being unlikely to produce extreme turn on the first morning. England, after winning the toss, chose to bat first — a decision that would attract scrutiny once the match developed.

The third Test of the 2021 India-England series was played at the newly rebuilt Narendra Modi Stadium (formerly Motera Stadium) in Ahmedabad as a day-night Test with a pink ball. The match ended in less than two days, with India winning by 10 wickets. England were bowled out for 112 and 81, while India managed 145 and 49/0. Axar Patel took 11 wickets in the match and Ravichandran Ashwin claimed 7.

The pitch was the primary subject of debate. It turned sharply from the first session, making batting extremely difficult. Several England batsmen were dismissed by deliveries that turned prodigiously or kept low. The pitch received a "below average" rating from the ICC match referee. English pundits were furious, with Michael Vaughan and others calling the pitch "unacceptable" and saying it was "not a Test match pitch."

Indian commentators and former players pushed back strongly, accusing England of hypocrisy given their own history of preparing seaming pitches to exploit their pace attack. They noted that Indian batsmen also struggled and that the pink ball's extra lacquer contributed to the conditions. The debate exposed familiar fault lines between subcontinent nations who prepare spin-friendly pitches and SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries who favor pace. It also raised questions about the viability of pink ball Tests on subcontinental pitches and whether the ICC's pitch rating system adequately accounts for different playing styles.

“It's a good batting wicket. The way our spinners bowled is the reason we won so quickly. People talking about the pitch are looking for excuses.”

“I have never seen a Test pitch behave like this on day one. It's an absolute disgrace for Test cricket if pitches like this are passed off as acceptable.”

“The pitch was the same for both teams. We were outplayed by India. We did not play well enough.”

“The pitch is rated 'average' under the ICC pitch and outfield monitoring process and no further action is required.”

“The ball turning from day one is part of cricket in India. We are not going to apologise for our conditions.”

The international reaction was immediate and polarised. Former England players including Michael Vaughan, David Lloyd, Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain heavily criticised the surface, with Vaughan calling it 'a disgrace' for Test cricket. Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon offered the much-quoted observation that the ball was turning on a length from delivery one. Indian players and former players, by contrast, defended the surface vigorously. Virat Kohli described it as 'a good batting wicket' and argued that England had been outplayed in conditions both teams had to negotiate. Sunil Gavaskar pointed out that England's batsmen had failed to apply themselves and that several wickets had fallen to balls that had not turned at all. The ICC, applying its formal pitch and outfield monitoring process, rated the surface 'average' — the second-best of four available ratings, below 'very good' but above 'below average' and 'poor'. The decision attracted criticism from the British media but reflected a defensible technical reading of the surface's behaviour: while spin was substantial from early in the match, the ball's bounce was generally consistent and dismissals reflected substantial batting failures alongside the surface's character. India went on to win the fourth Test in Ahmedabad on a more conventional surface, sealing the series 3-1 and progressing to the inaugural World Test Championship final.