Gautam Gambhir (R) & Galle International Cricket Stadium (Source: AFP Photos)
With less than three days remaining before the first of the two-match Test series between Sri Lanka and India, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) began to play mind games with Gautam Gambhir, the visitors’ head coach. This concerned the pitch at Galle International Stadium, as Times of India (TOI) reported.
Galle pitch will be used for India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test, scheduled to begin on August 15. There, Gautam Gambhir and India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak came to check what kind of surface SLC will offer.
It all happened during Sri Lanka’s closed-door practice session on Wednesday, with Gambhir not supposed to be visiting there.
Galle pitch was covered until Gambhir and Kotak asked to check in. The ground staff took the cover off for a bit and immediately put it back once Gambhir and Kotak were done checking.
Change In Galle Pitch Within Two Hours After Gautam Gambhir’s Departure
The TOI revealed that the SLC did the magic within two hours after Gautam Gambhir and Sitanshu Kotak left Galle. The ground staff brought out a lawn mower and took it across the 22-yard strip several times.
A soft roller was brought in after that, and the Galle pitch was exposed to the sun for a while before the ground staff put the cover back on.
Also Read: Gautam Gambhir Makes 'No-Nonsense' Appeal To India Players For Sri Lanka Tests
Given that the pitch does matter whenever the coaching staff discuss it with team captains to finalise the playing XI, it was a mind game played by SLC, and Gambhir was at the receiving end.
The Gautam Gambhir-led think tank will now reconsider whether to go with three prominent seam-bowling options or three reliable spinners. They have quite a few options in the squad to be fair.
Gautam Gambhir Already In Trouble With Recent Results
Even though Gambhir had helped India win the Champions Trophy 2025 and the T20 World Cup 2026, his recent results, coupled with continuous struggles in Tests, have always put his job at risk.
Among many setbacks, Gambhir’s biggest failure as India’s head coach was a 3-0 Test series defeat against New Zealand, that too at home. In the process, New Zealand ended India’s 12-year-old record streak at home, an unwanted feat Gambhir would like to forget as soon as possible.
Therefore, Gambhir would desperately look to register a 2-0 series victory against Sri Lanka. That would help Shubman Gill and co to keep themselves alive for the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) race.
With four wins and as many defeats, India are currently fifth on the WTC points table, having got the PCT of 48.150. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are sixth, with one victory, two draws and a defeat in the West Indies.
Australia, South Africa and New Zealand top the chart, that too in a significant way over 70 or more PCT.
Also Read: Andrew Flintoff's Son Rocky Breaks 136-Year-Old Cricket Record
