IND vs AUS: ICC deems Indore pitch 'poor' after India slump to defeat within three days

ICC has deemed the Indore pitch as "poor" under ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, after the 3rd Test between India and Australia ended within three days.

Hosts India got a taste of their own medicine as they suffered a crushing defeat at the Holkar Stadium. Australia won the match by 9 wickets and will be aiming to level the series in Ahmedabad in the fourth and final test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

The Test match in Indore ended withing seven sessions, as 30 wickets fell within the first two days. Out of the total 31 wickets that fell, 26 were picked up by the spinners.

It was a rank turner and the ball had plenty of assistance for the spinners. Aussie off-spinner Nathan Lyon took full advantage of it, picking up 11 wickets in the match.

But after the match, the Holkar stadium has received three demerit points after the match referee Chris Broad submitted his report after consultation with both Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith, the captains of both teams.

The rating is in for the Indore pitch for the third #INDvAUS Test 👀#WTC23 | Details 👇 https://t.co/QgWYYxrNCR

— ICC (@ICC) March 3, 2023

Speaking on the Indore turf, the ICC match referee Chris Broad said, "The pitch, which was very dry, did not provide a balance between bat and ball, favouring spinners from the start.

"The fifth ball of the match broke through the pitch surface and continued to occasionally break the surface providing little or no seam movement and there was excessive and uneven bounce throughout the match," he added.

BCCI now have 14 days to appeal against the sanction if they want. With the three demerit points, the Holkar stadium is now just two more demerit points away from a possible ban. According to ICC rule, a venue will be suspended from hosting any international match for a period of 12 months if it amasses five or more demerit points over a five-year rolling period.

The Australian team have also qualified for the WTC Final with their victory. They will be taking part in the final that is set to be held at the Oval in June. India still are the favourites to join Australia as the second team, but Sri Lanka can also sneak in if things go their way.

India, who will retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy irrespective of the result in Ahmedabad, would dearly like to finish on a high and resurrect themselves in the final match of the series.