Pitch Ratings for India's home games: ICC terms Kanpur outfield 'unsatisfactory', Chennai surface deemed 'very good'

The ICC has released the pitch ratings for India's home games against Bangladesh and New Zealand. The surface at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai used for the first India vs Bangladesh Test has received a 'very good' rating. However, the outfield at Kanpur's Green Park stadium, which hosted the second Test, has been termed 'unsatisfactory' by match referee Jeff Crowe.

India beat Bangladesh 2-0 in the two-match Test in September-October. The hosts won the first Test by 280 runs in Chennai and the second by seven wickets in Kanpur. Rohit Sharma and co., though, suffered a 3-0 whitewash against the Kiwis in the recently ended three-match series. They lost the first Test in Bengaluru by eight wickets, the second in Pune by 113 runs and the third in Mumbai by 25 runs.

A report in news agency PTI gave out details about ICC's pitch rating for the above games. While Chennai got a favorable 'very good' rating, the other four venues used for Tests during the season (Kanpur, Bengaluru, Pune and Mumbai) were deemed 'satisfactory'.

India were all-out for a paltry 46 in their first innings against New Zealand in Bengaluru after deciding to bat first on a pitch that had plenty of moisture and assistance for pace bowlers. The surfaces in Pune and Mumbai turned a lot but got satisfactory ratings. The Kiwis were able to put up impressive displays with the willow even as India struggled as New Zealand's spinners.

The outfield at Green Park in Kanpur was rated 'unsatisfactory' after two full days of play was washed out at the venue due to poor drainage system. India, though, won the game on the back of a record-breaking batting performance, which was backed up by their bowlers.

Shifting focus to T20Is, the pitches in Gwalior, Delhi and Hyderabad used for the matches against Bangladesh received 'very good' rating from the ICC. Suryakumar Yadav-led Team India thumped Bangladesh 3-0 in the series.

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India's T20I squad in South Africa for four-match series

Team India's T20I squad is currently in South Africa for a four-match T20I series. The visitors face the Proteas in the first match in Durban on Friday, November 8. The remaining three games will be played in Gqeberha, Centurion and Johannesburg on November 10, 13 and 15 respectively.

Meanwhile, the Test team will play five matches in Australia from November 22 to January 7 as part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Skipper Rohit Sharma might miss the opening Test in Perth due to personal reasons.