Ranji Trophy 2019-20 | Neutralise home advantage by discarding toss, suggests Jaydev Unadkat
Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Unadkat has reckoned that India’s upcoming domestic season could neutralise home team advantage by doing away the toss altogether. With the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament done, the focus shifts to the Ranji Trophy and Irani Cup.
As the 38 domestic teams go all out to stake their claim for India’s domestic title honours, the BCCI and its state associations will need to grapple with the massive volume of cricket set to be played. And 28-year-old Unadkat reckons that the toss, which gives an overwhelming advantage to home teams, needs to be done away going forward.
“The home team naturally has a better idea of the pitch and how it will behave. For example, if I am playing at home and Saurashtra have prepared a turner, a wicket I know will turn in the fourth innings, so if I get to bat first I am 90% certain I can beat any team,” Unadkat told ESPNCricinfo.
“In the same scenario, if the visiting team gets to decide to bat first, based on past results and behaviour of the pitch and our performance in the first innings, it would be more challenging even for the home team. We will have to figure out what kind of wicket to give and what kind of cricket to play. We will then have to fight it out even in home conditions. Essentially what I am saying neutralises home advantage and makes the contest even,” he said.
While veteran batsman Wasim Jaffer himself noted the same point and called for more sporting pitches, Unadkat wants to go about solving the issue by offering the visiting team the option to bat or bowl.
“Perhaps the BCCI can think of doing away the toss. Give the visiting team the choice to bat or bowl. That probably could make the matches more challenging. That way the wickets will be more sporting as well,” Unadkat added.
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