India vs Bangladesh: Kanpur Test and Green Park, where pitch colour won't matter, performances will

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Green Park, don't get fooled by the name of the cricket stadium in Kanpur, which will host the second Test between India and Bangladesh, starting Friday. When the two captains walk out for the toss, Green Park will look like a bride decked up as the venue has been refurbished.

But do not expect a green tinge on the track. Even before the two teams landed in Kanpur, pitch talk has reached a feverish pitch.

From red soil in Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium to black soil in Kanpur, the discourse has begun. More than curators, the experts are offering their views on how the track will play in one of the most polluted cities famous for its leather industry.

Since the time of the British Raj, leather and tanning have been famous in Kanpur, a city with less buzz when compared to the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Lucknow has been the favoured venue for IPL matches and the home for Lucknow Super Giants. As far as the BCCI and Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association are concerned, Kanpur was chosen for specific reasons.

Viewed historically, plenty of Test matches have been played in Kanpur where former greats like Sunil Gavaskar and GR Viswanath, the man of square cut and style fame, have scored good runs. Before one talks of the pitch report, one need to assess if it will be a pitched battle. The way Bangladesh flew into Chennai, with massive hype, what they produced in terms of cricket was pathetic. It was a grim reminder they may have beaten Pakistan in Pakistan but still looked like a club side against India.

It does not matter what the colour of the pitch will be, eventually. What will matter is who will score runs and take wickets. For those who value the runs scored by R Ashwin, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill in the first Test, it will be important for skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to also find their touch.

This series and the next one against New Zealand are not the main course. That will be the Border Gavaskar series, Down Under, for which mind games are already being played. If one follows the podcasts and cricket shows, plus columns from legends like Ian Chappell, the Aussies are waiting to 'have a go' at the Indians. One thing is sure, this Indian side is neither meek nor worried about what lies in store in Australia. They have won a hard series there the last time, even without Virat Kohli.

Back to Kanpur, what combination Rohit picks will be after the final assessment and more practice on Thursday. There is every possibility, India may play three spinners. If that happens, Kuldeep Yadav may find a place in the 11 at the expense of a medium fast bowler. Kuldeep is from Kanpur and he has proven to be a great asset to India in recent times. Yet, when one talks of the overall contributions made by two giant all-rounders - Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja - Kuldeep pales in comparison.

A look at the weather report, there could be showers on Saturday. For old-timers who have been to Kanpur before, this city was feared because of its pollution emission levels. And for a cricket Test to happen at this time of the year is also a bit unusual. It's a bit like the hype over Rishabh Pant these days. The young man's comeback has been sensational, with the Test ton in Chennai bold and beautiful. His glovework has also been clean, after the miraculous escape in a car accident in December 2022.

Yet, for all that Pant has achieved in Tests and scored runs, any comparison which shows him as better than MS Dhoni is a bit weird. Dhoni was the maestro, a class act, winning captain of important ICC trophies and lasted 90 Tests. His captaincy was marveled and how he lasted three formats was defining.

A look at Pant's stats, he has played just 34 Tests till now. There has to be a sense of proportion when comparing him with a legend. Never mind, Dhoni is still a part of the IPL circus and will retained by Chennai Super Kings if the grapevine is to be believed.