Ravi Ashwin has also supported the idea that selected Test venues should feature top-quality pitches. Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin backed Virat Kohli’s vision of having standard Test centres for India’s home matches. Back in 2019, Kohli had suggested that India should have only five Test venues for home games, similar to the model in England and Australia.
Ravi Ashwin, who retired from international cricket in December 2024, emphasized that these chosen venues should offer the best pitches, providing a genuine home advantage. The discussion gained momentum after India’s seven-wicket win over the West Indies in the second Test on October 14, when head coach Gautam Gambhir criticized the pitch conditions at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Gambhir noted that the wicket offered little assistance to pacers and called for improved pitches for India’s home Tests. Following his remarks, the debate over home Test pitches has become a major talking point in Indian cricket, with Ashwin adding his perspective to the conversation.
“There’s Virtually No Bounce in Eastern India”: Ravi Ashwin on Standard Test Centres
Speaking on his YouTube channel Ash ki Baat, Ravi Ashwin voiced support for establishing standard Test match centres in India. He emphasized that selected venues should provide a genuine home advantage with high-quality pitches.
“Test centres aren’t just about the crowds. It’s also about familiarity with the conditions. Playing a Test in Guwahati or Ranchi is not a problem in itself, but the issue in India is that every surface has a unique character. In the Eastern part of the country, there’s literally no bounce, which makes the pitch quite ordinary for a Test match,” Ravi Ashwin explained.
He added, “Whatever Test centre is chosen, it should have the best pitches. Some venues are better not because of the crowds or facilities, but because the pitches are superior and the home team knows the conditions. That’s what home advantage truly means. Otherwise, it’s just playing somewhere on the Indian map—it’s not really home.”
“I don’t think anyone in the Indian team has played a First-Class match in Guwahati”
Recalling discussions with Virat Kohli on the subject, Ravi Ashwin stressed the importance of standard Test venues and questioned the suitability of Guwahati as a Test location. Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati is set to host the second Test between India and South Africa next month.
“Eden Gardens, Guwahati—should these be standard Test centres? Virat mentioned years ago that they should be fixed. I personally think it’s long overdue. Test centres were initially created to allow more players to emerge and to help associations receive more funding. But Guwahati as a Test venue doesn’t offer a home advantage for either side, and I don’t think anyone in the Indian team has played a first-class game there,” Ravi Ashwin said.
He continued, “We’ve discussed this for a long time, and in my opinion, India should have five fixed Test centres, period. State associations can rotate games for T20s and ODIs, which is fine, but for Test cricket, visiting teams should know: ‘We’re playing at these five centres, these are the pitches we can expect, and this is the type of crowd that will come.’”
Looking Ahead
India recently completed a 2-0 whitewash of the West Indies in the Test series, winning the first Test by an innings and 140 runs and the second by seven wickets. Their next Test assignment is a two-match series against South Africa scheduled for November.
