This is what happens when you overthink a problem. The
managers of Indian cricket thought or over-thought the
idea of creating a turning pitch at Pune for the first test
match between India and Australia. They first got in touch
with the Maharashtra Cricket Association which refused. Then
they took the matter to the MCA curator Pandurang Salgaoncar,
who explained that the mixed soil required some grass
cover and moisture. At this point of time the BCCI chief curator
and west zone curator entered the scene but refused to entertain
the request from the team managers. The demand was for
a bald surface which the curators explained would be nasty.
Finally the India team managers got their wish and the grass
was rubbed off with metal brushes. Instead of favouring Ravichandran
Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, a relatively unknown
left-arm bowler from Australia, Steve O’Keefe ripped through
the Indian batting order to give his team a convincing win. The
net result is that the Aussies have the upper hand while Virat
Kohli and his band of world beaters are dumbstruck. Soon
after the surprise loss, team coach Anil Kumble commented
that the team lost because it did not adapt fast enough. What
was left unsaid was the behind-the-scene manoeuvrings that
cost India the test. The second test will be played at Bengaluru
which is expected to be better-behaved unless someone interferes
again.
