When I first stepped onto that massive Narendra Modi Stadium ground, man, the pitch looked like an absolute road – flat and begging to be smashed. But looks can trick you, right? So I grabbed my bat and decided to test it out properly before giving any advice to you folks.
My Testing Session Step-by-Step
Morning Session – The Surface Check
Started by walking barefoot on the deck around 9am. Pressed hard with my heels – felt rock solid underneath but with just a tiny bit of give. Threw some balls from knee height: they bounced true every single time without shooting up weirdly. Good signs already.
Batting Against Medium Pace
Faced our club’s military-medium bowlers first. Played proper textbook drives through covers. Ball came onto the bat sweet as honey! Didn’t even need to over-hit – just timed it and watched it race away. But here’s the thing: when I tried forcing the pull shot early? Ball stuck in the surface a fraction longer. Nearly got me caught mid-wicket!
Spinners Enter the Fray
Afternoon heat baked that clay more. Our wrist-spinner ripped it hard. Saw some balls turn sharp off the rough near footmarks, but in the main batting areas? Just gentle grip. Tip: If you sweep here, commit fully or you’ll glove it to short leg.
Evening Survival Drill
Last hour under lights was tricky. Dew made the ball skid like soap on tiles, especially fuller deliveries. Had to shuffle way forward to smother that movement. Twice misjudged the length playing back – almost chopped on!
Big Lessons I Learned
- Front foot is your goldmine – The true bounce rewards classic drives. Don’t get cute.
- Forget cross-bat slogs early – That slight slowness before bounce eats power.
- Watch the dew factor – If playing night games, quick footwork saves your stumps.
- Shine the ball like crazy – Our pacers got late swing when the seam stayed proud.
End result? Scored a solid 85 in our practice game by sticking to these rules. Saw three teammates trying fancy ramp shots on this track – all back in the pavilion before 20 runs. Moral? Respect the pitch’s character even when it looks flat. Play smart, cash in big!
