The Eden Gardens welcomed two of the best batting outfits on current form to try out a new surface that has been laid recently at the more than 150-year-old venue.
Despite the fate of the series being decided — with India taking an unassailable 2-0 lead — there was no dearth of interest surrounding the conceptually “inconsequential” encounter.
The surge in interest may have emanated from the keenness with which the two sides have battled out the three-match series that has already seen more than 1400 runs scored in two matches.
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As the scene shifts to one of the most celebrated centres of cricket, prospect of another absorbing contest gains consequence. The Eden Gardens surface underwent a complete makeover last season with both the grass and the soil undergoing alteration ahead of the T20 World Cup last year.
According to the groundsmen, this will be the right time to assess the transformation as both the re-laid soil base and the Bermuda grass have settled down to the conditions.
Those who have worked on the surface feel that the new track will see Eden Gardens offering even assistance to both the batsmen and the bowler, in a break from its age-old avatar as a slow turner.
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India has dominated the visiting team on every count so far with Virat Kohli leading the charge with his exceptional batting, first in the Tests and then in the limited-overs format. Kohli skipped the ‘optional practice’ session on Saturday but the ‘old guard’ that fetched India the win in the previous match at Cuttack — M.S. Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh — had a serious workout.
Dhoni, who relinquished captaincy just ahead of the series, returned to his imperious form with the bat just when the team needed his support. The overflowing galleries at the Barabati Stadium (Cuttack) were treated to some classic vignettes as Yuvraj joined Dhoni in scripting a record partnership of 256 runs with both scoring centuries.
The resurrection happened more for Yuvraj, who made a spectacular comeback scoring his highest ODI total and the first century after the 2011 World Cup.
With the new breed of all-rounders — Kedar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya — giving solidity and strength to the team, Virat Kohli may look to wrap up his first series as the limited-overs captain with an all-win record.
There may even be a possibility, which will be determined by the merit of the wicket, Kohli may consider some rotation in the roster by trying out the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey or Amit Mishra, who have not featured in the series so far.
England has shown admirable application in the batting department with Jason Roy, Joe Root and its captain Eoin Morgan showing fine form.
But what the visitors have failed to assess in the subcontinent is the need for variety in the bowling department, especially the use of ‘slower ball’ which can be a big weapon on the flat tracks offered here so far.
The bowling, led by pacer Chris Woakes, has not been able to come to terms with the need of the situation.
With the Eden Gardens pitch promising to offer the pacers some ‘purchase’, England may well think of getting a win ahead of the upcoming T20I series.
The teams (from):
India: Virat Kohli (capt.), M.S. Dhoni (wk), Lokesh Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Yuvraj Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav
England: Eoin Morgan (capt.), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler (wk), Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes
Umpires: Anil Chaudhary, Kumar Dharmasena; Third umpire: Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Fourth umpire: O. Nandan .