NEW DELHI: As India prepare for an unfamiliar battlefield in Guwahati, former opener Aakash Chopra believes that the hosts still enter the second Test against South Africa with a subtle but crucial edge — the innate familiarity of Indian conditions. Even though the ACA Stadium is hosting its first-ever Test, Chopra insists that “home advantage” remains very real.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking at JioStar’s Media Day ahead of the series decider, Chopra admitted that the pitch is a mystery for both sides.“No one has any idea how cricket will be played in Guwahati because it is a new Test venue,” he said. While acknowledging that first-class cricket and the recent Women’s World Cup at the venue showed signs of turn, he stressed that the unknown cannot wipe out India’s intrinsic comfort.
“We are still playing in India. We grew up playing on these kinds of surfaces… We would like to believe and back ourselves to know or adapt to the conditions a lot faster, even if they are slightly different.”Chopra believes this gives India a measurable advantage over South Africans raised on the hard, fast tracks of Johannesburg and the Wanderers.“The soil must have come from somewhere in India,” he quipped, underscoring that Indian batters should have a head start in adjusting.With skipper Shubman Gill battling a neck injury, the No. 3 slot has sparked fresh debate. Chopra backed Sai Sudharsan as the rightful first-choice, despite Washington Sundar’s gritty show at Eden.“Washington presents himself as a phenomenal option… but the bigger question is — are we going to keep changing goalposts after every series?”He pointed out Sudharsan’s strong 87 against the West Indies as proof of temperament and long-format suitability.“For number 3 — a very important position — you prioritise batting capabilities, temperament, patience,” he stressed, adding that constant chopping sends mixed signals: “What message will you give to Sudharsan if you change course now?”On workload management for Gill, Chopra stood firm. “If you need workload management, skip the IPL… When you’re in good form, you maximise it,” he said.
