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Mohali: The India-Pakistan clash is expected to have all the ingredients of a thrilling one-dayer. Batsmen will have a deck that would assist run-scoring and bowlers too will get enough purchase.
According to PCA stadium curator, Daljeet Singh, it will be a typical ODI wicket. "The pitch will have enough bounce and movement for seamers and some purchase for spinners in the latter part of the innings."
Daljeet added, "270-280 will be a good score here. The average scores here have been around this mark. The outfield will be fast as grass will be kept low to minimize the dew factor.
Groundsmen have been using ropes and wetting agent for the last few days to minimise the impact of dew. But dew will be a factor as we have noticed that it starts setting in after 7.30 to 8 pm," he said.
Coach Gary Kirsten and MS Dhoni had a good look at the wicket and had a long chat with the curator. "Dhoni generally asked about the nature of the wicket and average scores on the track in the recent past. There was no request or any specific demand from him," he clarified.
Going by the past records, Mohali does not look like a wicket that will witness a feast which has been a feature of some of the Cup venues this time but there will be enough boundaries for batsmen.
With the crunch match being billed as a contest between strong Pakistan bowling and India's famed batting line-up, speedster Umar Gul hoped the bowling would come good but did not commit on the team's selection (read Shoaib Akhtar) and said, "We haven't had a look at the wicket till now and the team management will decide on the playing XI only after looking at the pitch and the conditions. But I think if Shoaib plays it will ease the pressure off me a bit."
