NEW DELHI: As India prepare for an unfamiliar battleground in Guwahati, former opener Aakash Chopra believes the hosts still go into the second Test against South Africa with a subtle but crucial edge – the inherent familiarity of Indian conditions. Even with the ACA Stadium hosting its first ever Test, Chopra insists the “home advantage” remains very real.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Speaking at JioStar’s media day ahead of the series decision, Chopra admitted that the pitch was a mystery to both sides.
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“No one has any idea how cricket will be played in Guwahati as it is a new Test venue,” he said. While acknowledging that first-class cricket and the recent Women’s World Cup at the venue showed signs of a turnaround, he stressed that the unknown cannot erase India’s inner comfort.“We’re still playing in India. We’ve grown up playing on these types of surfaces… We’d like to believe and support each other to get to know each other a lot quicker or adapt to the conditions, even if they’re a little bit different.”Chopra believes this gives India a measurable advantage over the South Africans brought up on the hard and fast tracks of Johannesburg and Wanderers.“The soil must have come from somewhere in India,” he quipped, stressing that Indian batsmen should have a head start in conditioning.With skipper Shubman Gill struggling with a neck injury, the No.3 slot has sparked fresh debate. Chopra backed Sai Sudharsan as the rightful first choice, despite Washington Sundar’s rough show in Eden.“Washington presents itself as a phenomenal option … but the bigger question is – are we going to keep changing goals after every series?”He pointed to Sudharsan’s powerful 87 against the West Indies as a testament to the temperament and suitability of the long format.“At No. 3 – a very important position – you prioritize batting ability, temperament, patience,” he pointed out, adding that constant slashing sends mixed signals: “What message will you give Sudharsan if you change course now?”On managing the workload for Gill, Chopra stood firm. “If you need workload management, skip the IPL… When you’re in good shape, you maximize it,” he said.
