Chennai: Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has echoed Virat Kohli’s 2019 call for designated Test centres in India, urging the BCCI to fix a few select venues for hosting red-ball matches to ensure better home advantage and consistent pitch quality.
Speaking on his ‘Ash ki Baat’ YouTube channel, Ashwin said that India needs to identify specific Test venues where players are familiar with the pitch, conditions, and atmosphere. He stressed that Test centres are not just about attracting crowds but also about familiarity and consistency, which are key to maintaining India’s dominance in the longest format.
“Test centres are not about crowds alone. It’s about familiarity with conditions,” Ashwin said. “If we play in Guwahati or Ranchi, I’m not against these venues, but every surface in India has a different identity. There’s literally no bounce in the eastern region—it becomes an ordinary Test pitch.”
Ashwin highlighted that some venues naturally offer better pitches and allow players to adapt more easily, creating a genuine home advantage. “Make sure whichever Test centre you decide has the best pitches. Some venues are better because the team is used to the conditions. Otherwise, it’s home only on paper,” he added.
Ashwin’s comments come amid poor crowd turnout during India’s recent home Tests against the West Indies, particularly in Ahmedabad and Delhi. While Delhi drew a decent audience, the massive Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad looked half-empty despite its one-lakh capacity.
Back in 2019, then Test captain Virat Kohli had made a similar appeal, suggesting five permanent Test venues. He argued that while rotating venues is fine for limited-overs cricket, Test cricket demands consistency and identity across specific grounds.
“In my opinion, we should have five Test centres, period,” Kohli had said. “Teams coming to India should know—these are the five venues, these are the pitches, and this is what to expect from the crowds.”
Looking ahead to India’s upcoming Test series against South Africa in November—featuring matches at Eden Gardens (Kolkata) and Barsapara Stadium (Guwahati), which will host its first-ever Test—Ashwin reiterated the need for fixed centres.
“Eden Gardens and Guwahati—are these the right venues for a major Test series?” Ashwin questioned. “Virat said years ago that we should have fixed Test centres. It’s about time. Guwahati isn’t a home game for either team; most Indian players haven’t even played first-class cricket there.”
Ashwin also drew comparisons with England and Australia, who have established traditions around specific Test venues—like Lord’s and The Oval in England, and Melbourne (Boxing Day Test) and Sydney (New Year’s Test) in Australia—creating a strong identity for their red-ball cricket.
