International cricket makes a much-anticipated return to Gwalior after a long gap of 14 years. On October 6, India will face Bangladesh in the first T20 International at the newly constructed Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Stadium. The last international match held in Gwalior took place in 2010 at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium, where cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar scored the first-ever double century in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Since then, the venue has only been used for domestic matches.
As the Madhavrao Scindia Stadium prepares to host its inaugural international match, fans are curious about the pitch conditions and whether the game will be high-scoring.
Pitch Report and Ground Conditions
The pitch at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Stadium is expected to be favorable for batsmen. Initial observations suggest that the wicket will maintain its consistency throughout the 40 overs. With small straight boundaries and larger square boundaries, fast bowlers may need to adjust their lengths to adapt to the conditions. Good-length deliveries are likely to come off the bat nicely, allowing batsmen to play through the line effectively.
Commenting on the pitch, a local cricket expert mentioned, "The Gwalior pitch was initially low and slow, but it was made more batter-friendly later on. This was evident during the Madhya Pradesh Premier League, where we saw significantly higher scores, with multiple teams exceeding 200 runs."
Key Stats Ahead of the Match
While this will be the first international match at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Stadium, insights from the Madhya Pradesh T20 League provide useful information. The average first innings score during the league was 171, with teams surpassing the 200-run mark on two occasions. Notably, one match saw a remarkable score of 278 runs in the first innings, while the chasing team managed to respond with 239 runs.
In total, 12 matches were held at the stadium during the Madhya Pradesh T20 League in June, with teams crossing the 200-run threshold four times.
Madhya Pradesh T20 League 2024 Key Stats
Team Matches Won
Batting First 4
Batting Second 8
As fans gear up for this exciting encounter, the atmosphere in Gwalior is charged with anticipation. With a new stadium and a promising pitch, the first T20 match between India and Bangladesh is set to be an unforgettable experience.