J&K Lodges Official Complaint Over Alleged Pitch Tampering
A major controversy erupted in the Ranji Trophy on Saturday morning when the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team accused Baroda of pitch tampering ahead of Day 3 of their match at the Reliance Cricket Ground in Vadodara, Gujarat. The visitors lodged an official complaint with the match referee, claiming that the playing surface had been altered before play commenced.
The dispute arose when J&K coach Ajay Sharma noticed a change in the pitch’s color, suggesting possible tampering. He immediately raised the issue with on-field umpires Pashchim Pathak and Ravi Teja, as well as match referee Arjan Kripal Singh. The match was delayed for nearly 1.5 hours, eventually resuming at 10:55 AM.
Baroda Denies Allegations, Plans to Approach BCCI
The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) has strongly refuted the accusations, maintaining that the pitch was not altered in any way. A BCA official dismissed the claims as “baseless”, attributing the conditions to winter moisture affecting the pitch and outfield.
“The allegations made by the J&K coach are completely baseless. The pitch had moisture due to winter conditions, and even the outfield was damp. The umpires also agreed with this observation. Anyone familiar with cricket understands that morning moisture can affect the playing surface, especially in winter,” an official told The Indian Express.
The official further added, “While match delays happen due to weather conditions, accusing us of pitch tampering is unacceptable. We will take this matter to the BCCI regarding the remarks made by the J&K coach.”
According to ESPNCricinfo, the official reason given for the delay was “pitch dampness.”
Crucial Match for Baroda’s Knockout Hopes
The controversy comes at a critical time for Baroda, who need a victory in this match to keep their knockout stage qualification hopes alive. With Mumbai securing a dominant win over Meghalaya, the Krunal Pandya-led Baroda side is under pressure to chase down the 365-run target set by J&K to stay in contention.
The allegations and subsequent denials have only added to the tension in this high-stakes Ranji Trophy clash. It remains to be seen if the BCCI will intervene following Baroda’s appeal.
