IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal and former England Cricketer Paul Taylor during a press conference SISGrass Hybrid Pitches at HPCA Ground in Dharamshala on May 06, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Moorthy RV

India’s first-ever ‘hybrid pitch’ was unveiled at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium in a grand ceremony here on May 6.

The event was attended by IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal and cricket dignitaries including Paul Taylor, a former England cricketer and SIS’s international cricket director.

“The introduction of hybrid pitches is set to revolutionize cricket in India, following their success in iconic venues like Lord’s and The Oval in England,” said Dhumal, who hails from Himachal Pradesh.

The hybrid pitch, which combines natural turf with synthetic fibres, promises enhanced durability and consistent playability, reducing the strain on ground staff and maintaining quality playing conditions.

With only 5% synthetic fibres, the pitch ensures that the natural characteristics essential for cricket are preserved.

Taylor expressed gratitude towards the HPCA for their collaboration on this pioneering project.

“With the ICC’s approval, we’re excited to see the positive impact these pitches will have on the sport, starting with installations in Mumbai and Ahmedabad next,” he said.

The ‘Universal Machine’, a critical component in installing the hybrid surface, was developed by SISGrass in 2017 and has been instrumental in the rollout of similar pitches across England’s county cricket grounds.

This innovation aligns with the ICC’s recent sanctioning of hybrid pitches for T20 and one-day international matches, with plans to expand their use in four-day county championships starting this year.

The integration of technologies like SISAir, a root aeration system, further underscores the commitment to enhancing cricket infrastructure in India. This system improves the pitch’s health and resilience, benefiting players with better and safer playing conditions.

Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
| Photo Credit: AFP

The picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium has become the first BCCI-accredited venue to install a state-of-the-art ‘hybrid pitch’ and future international and IPL matches will be held on this track.

The Netherlands-based ‘SISGrass’, a part of the SIS Pitches group of companies, has been roped in for the first-ever hybrid pitch installation.

According to a press release, “this cutting-edge technology will transform the game by providing a more durable, consistent, and high-performing playing surface.” HPCA president R.P. Singh said, “The arrival of ground-breaking hybrid pitch technology in India signifies a game-changing moment for our national cricket.”

Paul Taylor, a former England cricketer and SIS’s international cricket director said, “As we inject new and improved technological advancements into India’s vibrant cricket ecosystem, we foresee a catalytic effect on its growth trajectory.” “At SISGrass, and working with fine turf specialists Greater Ten, our delivery partner in India, we are committed to investing in this ecosystem by providing top-notch facilities such as hybrid pitches,” he added.

SIS forayed in India after the ICC allowed the use of hybrid surfaces for T20 and 50-over competitions.

Following the success of installing hybrids across English cricket grounds, SIS decided to develop the technology in India.

The surface contains a small percentage of polymer fibre with the natural turf inside cricket stadiums. This composition is believed to be more resilient to stresses created during play, while prolonging life of the pitch, guaranteeing an even bounce and easing pressure on groundstaff.

The completed installations are still predominantly natural grass, with only 5% polymer fibre used to ensure that the characteristics of an all-natural pitch are maintained.

‘The Universal’ machine, used in Dharamshala for the hybrid pitch, will be taken to Ahmedabad and Mumbai to create further such pitches. It will remain in India for future projects.

In the U.K., hybrid pitches are approved for T20 and 50-over competitions and will also be used in the four-day County Championship matches this season. The Universal machine has been used to install SISGrass at various grounds in England such as Lord’s, The Oval, Edgbaston, Old Trafford and Trent Bridge.

It must be noted that Dharamsala pitch and outfield came under scanner during the ODI World Cup last year and the entire playing surface was refurbished.

When spin claims all 11 wickets on the opening day of a Test, it is not surprising to find the preparedness of the pitch under scrutiny. But the contrasting ways in which the two teams dealt with spin, soon put a lid on the simmering discussion.

After England opted to bat, Kuldeep Yadav and R. Ashwin took turns to claim nine wickets and Ravindra Jadeja made his presence felt by taking out Joe Root as England tumbled from 175 for three to 218.

The gains provided the spinners stood further enhanced after India raced to 135 for one at stumps. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal posted their first century stand of the season in under 21 overs.

Soon after reaching his half century, Jaiswal gifted his wicket to Shoaib Bashir, the man whom he hoisted for three sixes in an over. All three Indian batters on view did not hold back their strokes. Rohit and Shubman Gill, too, hit two sixes each.The Indian innings has produced 13 boundaries and seven sixes in 30 overs and quickly moved within 83 runs of England’s tally.

The batters did provide a ‘feel-good’ feeling in home dressing room at the end of a full day’s play. But the hero of the day was Kuldeep, who made a spectacular return to the venue where he made his debut with four for 68 against Australia in March 2017.

After Ashwin was introduced in the 15th over and Kuldeep in the 18th, the left-arm wrist-spinner got his act right off the sixth ball. Welcomed with boundaries by Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, Kuldeep came back almost immediately by mixing drift and turn.

Duckett went after a googly from Kuldeep but his miscued shot ended up in a brilliant running catch by Gill, who ran back to dive in time to take it. Ollie Pope stepped out but misread the spin to be stumped at the stroke of lunch.

In the second session, England was cruising along and reached 137 when Crawley, after producing his best of 79 in this series, became Kuldeep’s third victim. The ball turned and crashed into Crawley’s stumps as the batter shaped to play defensively.

Though Root continued his form from Ranchi, Jonny Bairstow looked keen to enjoy his 100th Test outing. But his 18-ball 29, during which he reached 6000 Test runs, ended with Jurel producing a reflex catch off a faint edge. Root was trapped leg-before by Jadeja and danger-man Ben Stokes surprisingly chose a backfoot on-drive to become Kuldeep’s fifth scalp.

After three wickets fell in the space of 13 dot balls, England looked at Ben Foakes to rebuild with the tailenders but did not reckon with Ashwin’s strike-power.

The off-spinner removed Tom Hartley and Mark Wood in one over before tea, returned to pack off Foakes and James Anderson in what turned out to be the last over of the innings.

Scoreboard

ENGLAND — 1ST INNINGS: Zak Crawley b Kuldeep 79 (108b, 11×4, 1×6), Ben Duckett c Gill b Kuldeep 27 (58b, 4×4), Ollie Pope st. Jurel b Kuldeep 11 (24b), Joe Root lbw b Jadeja 26 (56b, 4×4), Jonny Bairstow c Jurel b Kuldeep 29 (18b, 2×4, 2×6), Ben Stokes lbw b Kuldeep 0 (6b), Ben Foakes b Ashwin 24 (42b, 3×4), Tom Hartley c Padikkal b Ashwin 6 (9b, 1×4), Mark Wood c Rohit b Ashwin 0 (2b), Shoaib Bashir (not out) 11 (22b, 2×4), James Anderson c Padikkal b Ashwin 0 (3b); Extras (b-2, lb-1, nb-2): 5.

Total (in 57.4 overs): 218.

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-64 (Duckett, 17.6 overs), 2-100 (Pope, 25.3), 3-137 (Crawley, 37.2), 4-175 (Bairstow, 43.4), 5-175 (Root, 44.2), 6-175 (Stokes, 45.4), 7-183 (Hartley, 49.2), 8-183 (Wood, 49.4), 9-218 (Foakes, 57.1).

INDIA BOWLING: Bumrah 13-2-51-0, Siraj 8-1-24-0, Ashwin 11.4-1-51-4, Kuldeep 15-1-72-5, Jadeja 10-2-17-1.

INDIA — 1ST INNINGS: Yashasvi Jaiswal st. Foakes b Bashir 57 (58b, 5×4, 3×6), Rohit Sharma (batting) 52 (83b, 6×4, 2×6), Shubman Gill (batting) 26 (39b, 2×4, 2×6)

Total (for one wkt. in 30 overs): 135.

FALL OF WICKET: 1-104 (Jaiswal, 20.4).

ENGLAND BOWLING: Anderson 4-1-4-0, Wood 3-0-21-0, Hartley 12-0-46-0, Bashir 11-2-64-1.

Toss: England.