Bangladesh coach shocked by Chepauk pitch; curator's ominous 'disintegration' comment raises concerns for Day 1

Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha has evaluated the Chepauk track to be a sporting wicket. However, he remains uncertain about when it will begin to offer support to the spinners. Despite this, Hathurusingha mentioned that it appeared to be a promising wicket for an exciting match.

"It looks like a sporting wicket at this stage. But, judging by the sub-continent conditions, it can change right from Day 1. Not sure when it is going to start turning, though," the Bangladesh head coach said ahead of the series opener.

The red soil track is expected to assist the pacers of both teams with quality bounce and carry. Meanwhile, a veteran curator has suggested that the unusual weather pattern in the city could affect the nature of the pitch as the match goes on.

“It’s really hot here in Chennai for the last couple of weeks, with temperature touching late 30s. Even though I heard that the pitch is sufficiently getting watered, the extreme heat could lead to its disintegration as the match progresses.

"It will bring the spinners into action as the match moves on. So, that could be the reason the batsmen were preparing for the turning ball,” a veteran curator told PTI.

The Bangladesh team is riding high on confidence after a 2-0 away Test series win over Pakistan. It was the first time the Bangla Tigers had beaten Pakistan in a Test series.

Meanwhile, India, currently leading the World Test Championship (WTC) table, will start as favourites in the Test series.

"We are encouraged by playing the best team in the world, and coming to India and playing against them is the best challenge you get nowadays. Playing against the best always gives you the perception of where you stand, and as sportspersons, we always look forward to it," said Hathurusingha, the former Sri Lankan all-rounder, who was appointed Bangladesh coach early last year, during a pre-match press conference on Tuesday.