Wankhede curator says flat pitches unfair to young bowlers

Wankhede Stadium curator Ramesh Mhamunkar said flat pitches in international cricket are unfair to young bowlers making their debuts after performing well in domestic cricket. Mhamunkar noted that India have hosted 15 ODIs in the last two years with an economy rate of 7.11, while T20I scoring has reached 10.66 runs per over.

Auqib Nabi conceded 84 runs in 8.5 overs on his ODI debut against West Indies, while Anshul Kamboj gave away 82 in nine overs. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Gurnoor Brar also struggled on their debuts. Mhamunkar said even spinners receive little assistance on the current surfaces.

Mhamunkar said the Wankhede adds murum to red soil to produce batting wickets as instructed, but this prevents moisture retention needed for movement. He said domestic pitches offer assistance early before becoming batting-friendly, creating a more balanced contest.