Sri Lanka Alter Galle Pitch Hours After Gambhir Inspection
Sri Lanka Cricket's ground staff modified the surface shortly after India's coach inspected it, adding intrigue to the series opener.
With the first Test against India just days away, Sri Lanka Cricket has turned up the heat on visiting head coach Gautam Gambhir. Reports indicate that the pitch at Galle International Stadium was altered within two hours of Gambhir and India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak inspecting it. The duo had dropped by during a closed-door practice session, and the surface was quickly covered after their check.
According to sources, once Gambhir and Kotak left, the ground staff brought out a lawn mower and ran it across the 22-yard strip several times. A soft roller was then used, and the pitch was left exposed to the sun before being covered again. Such last-minute changes are seen as a deliberate move to complicate India's team selection, forcing the think tank to weigh three seamers against three spinners.
The timing adds pressure on Gambhir, whose recent Test record has been under scrutiny. A 3-0 home defeat to New Zealand last year ended India's long unbeaten streak and remains a blemish on his coaching tenure. With the Galle surface now a moving target, India's preparation for the series opener has taken an intriguing twist.