BCCI President Saurav Ganguly on Wednesday said that he is going to miss being at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad where the third test match between India and England will be played under the floodlights from February 24-28. Taking to Twitter, the former Indian captain shared a photograph of the spectacular Motera Stadium and lauded the effort that went into creating it.
Ganguly added that playing the pink ball Test was "our dream" and this is going to be the second such game on Indian soil. Previously, in November 2019, India locked horns with Bangladesh in the first-ever day-night test match in Kolkata's Eden Gardens and defeated their opponents in three days.
One of the most successful test captains, Ganguly also hoped it's going to be a full house like the last time in Kolkata.
Will miss being at the stadium today ..what an effort it must have been to create this ..pink test was our dream and it's going be the 2nd one in india.hope to see full stands like last time. Under the leadership of Honble Prime minister @narendramodi Amit Shah @AmitShah .. pic.twitter.com/za7vdYHTN0— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) February 24, 2021
In another tweet, Ganguly said BCCI secretary Jay Shah and other office-bearers of the Gujarat Cricket Association must be proud of the infrastructure they have created for cricketers of the state as well as the country and shared his good wishes for the day. This is the first international match after the mammoth stadium underwent a massive transformation over the past few years.
@JayShah and every office bearer and member of GCA ..must be proud of creating this infrastructure for every cricketer of Gujarat and India…Good wishes for today ..First international game after it was built ..@BCCI pic.twitter.com/mMXS38ky6z— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) February 24, 2021
Responding to Ganguly's tweet, Jay thanked Ganguly for his wishes, adding he will miss him at the stadium.
Thank you Sourav bhai.I will miss your presence.— Jay Shah (@JayShah) February 24, 2021
The four-match series between India and England is currently tied at 1-1. The Englishmen handed Indians a crushing 227-run defeat in the first game. However, the Indians came out all guns blazing the second match at Chepauk and defeated England by a mammoth 317-run margin. Allrounder Ravi Ashwin was the star of the show with the ball as well as the bat. He picked a five-wicket haul and then took to the crease to score his fifth test hundred.
Hitman Rohit Sharma, too, scored a ton in the first innings helping India reach a respectable total and laying the foundation for the big victory. In the third test, Indians are likely to largely retain the same side, except Jasprit Bumrah, who is likely to replace chinaman Kuldeep Yadav.
England, on the other hand, are expected to make several changes. Opener Rory Burns, who has struggled with the bat, could make way for Zak Crawley. Jonny Bairstow is also expected to return to the playing XI after England's poor batting display in the last game. Fast bowler Jofra Archer is also expected to be drafted in the side. It remains to be seen if James Anderson, who was rested in the second match, will return in place of Stuart Broad.
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