‘Koi zaroorat nahin hai idhar matches karane ki’ – Fans react as reports of ‘Lucknow wicket’s renovation’ for ODI World Cup 2023 surface online

The wicket at the Ekana Stadium has been a matter of discussion in the last few months. In January this year, a T20I between India and New Zealand saw a close between both teams despite the Men In Blue needing only 100 runs to win. In some of the home games of Lucknow Super Giants in the ongoing IPL 2023, anything above 120 runs has proved to be match-winning.

Fans, who watch T20 cricket for batting prowess, have felt bored. Meanwhile, after sacking the local curator after the T20I game fiasco, the Indian Cricket Board intervened and reportedly tried to rush the process of improving the wicket.

“Indian Cricket Board had decided to send a panel of curators to look after the pitch in Lucknow. They decided to do grassing on the square in such a short time frame. That has backfired. The pitches have stayed undercooked,” an Indian Cricket Board source told TOI.

“Indian Cricket Board curators told UPCA to redo the pitches and it was outsourced to a contractor in the first week of February. It takes six weeks for the pitches to settle down after the grassing. But it takes care and minute monitoring right through. UPCA has spent a lot on the surface but nobody really cared after the contract was handed out. Nobody really looked after the square. Hence, nothing worked,” the source said.

Lucknow Super Giants couldn’t practice at Ekana Stadium ahead of IPL 2023

“The team didn’t have any idea about the surface when they went to play the first match. In the first match against Delhi Capitals, the pitch was covered with a heavy layer of grass. Nobody could gauge how the underneath surface was. And it all unravelled very quickly,” the source said.

“Lucknow is slated to host World Cup matches in October-November. Perhaps, that forced the BCCI’s hand. They will have to renovate the surface during the off season after the IPL,” the source said.

This is how Twitter reacted

Also please tell them Johny sins bro to Change World Cup Final to Wankhede stadium 🥲 instead of Modi Stadium.

— CMA Monesh (@Cmamonesh) May 4, 2023

It’s not Modi stadium name that got it the final. It has the largest seating capacity of any cricket stadium in the world. And that might matter in a World Cup final duh 🙄 😒

— Kaustubh P (@Causticcos) May 4, 2023

No don't. Just give matches to SENA teams against Afghanistan and Bangladesh on this pitch 😈😈

— The Cricket Statistician (@CricketSatire) May 4, 2023

No need to renovate,shift matches to Mohali ,this Lucknow is not made for cricket

— ✶ 🎀 𝒟𝒶𝓀𝓈𝒽 𝑔𝒾𝓁𝓁 🎀 ✶ (@screwgauge77) May 4, 2023

Good idea.
Swap the pitch of Eden Gardens with Lucknow.. 🤭

— Anindita Banerjee (@AninditaB_AB) May 4, 2023

https://t.co/cNe5L6r3jM

— bemba tavuma (@ForuOreo) May 4, 2023

host the wc matches in Dharamsala instead

— retired ICT fan (@anubhav__tweets) May 4, 2023

I hope there are no Team India matches in Wankhede, Chinnaswamy, Kotla, Kolkata Stadium.

Very difficult to Defend Target in this Small Ground.

Chasing Team always have Big Advantages in this Stadium.

— Vaibhav D (@Vaibhav04563161) May 4, 2023

Bda stadium hai big boundaries hai to Flat hi bna do
Thode bounce ke sath
Achcha hai na atleast 300 ka score odi me aur 150 to 170 tk T20 me to bane

— Gaurav Verma (@VermagGaurav) May 4, 2023

Shift all the matches to my city Nagpur

— NIKHIL (@nikhil_nsu) May 4, 2023