IND vs ENG: World Test Championship, India Won't Lose Points Due To Chennai Pitch Rating

Cricket Image for IND vs ENG: World Test Championship, India Won't Lose Points Due To Chennai Pitch (Indian Cricket Team (Image Source: Twitter))

Neither Virat Kohli's Indian team nor billions of its followers globally have to worry about the ratings of the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium pitch and outfield by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Whatever be the ICC's assessment of the pitch, India's points on the World Test Championship (WTC) table, on which Kohli's team is presently second, will not be deducted.

India, England, and Australia are in the race for the second finalist's berth as New Zealand has already qualified for the final, to be played at Lord's, London, in June.

ICC on Wednesday clarified that that pitch and ground rating of pitches does not impact the WTC points table, though due to slow over rates points teams' points are deducted. India has no fear on the second count.

The ICC had till Wednesday evening not issued the pitch and outfield rating of the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.

After the Chennai pitch assisted spinners a great deal in both the first and second India-England Tests, doubts were expressed in some quarters that it might invite adverse rating from the ICC and, therefore, India might eventually be docked points on the WTC table.

However, to the relief of all associated with Indian cricket, the ICC clarified that the pitch ratings will not impact India's WTC points.

Below are the relevant ICC WTC rules that illustrate the two aspects - pitches receiving an adverse rating, and slow over rates.

Pitch and outfield ratings:

12.9.6 If at the end of the match, the over rate calculation determines that a team has bowled one or more overs less than the minimum over rate requirement, that team will incur one Penalty Over for each full over the team falls short of its minimum over rate required in a match.

12.9.7 A team will have two (2) World Test Championship competition points deducted from the total of its points for each Penalty Over it incurs during the Round Stage.

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