Third India-Australia Test could be shifted out of Dharamsala: Reports

The third Test between India and Australia could be shifted out of Dharamsala as the ground is not yet match-ready after being renovated recently, ESPNcricinfo reported on Friday (February 10). 

The third encounter of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy is scheduled to be played at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium from March 1-5.

It’s being reported that the final call will be made in the next couple of days and the Board of Control for Cricket in India has already shortlisted a back-up venue, but will only make the announcement once the final inspection is done. 

The match could be shifted to either Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, Pune or Indore. 

The HPCA stadium hosted a couple of T20Is between India and Sri Lanka last February and since then no cricket has been played at the venue as the state board had “decided to relay the outfield and fit a new drainage system.”

The website reported that there was an inspection conducted on February 3 and the outfield is still not ready. 

This venue last hosted a first-class game in early 2020 and the only Test at this ground was played between the same two countries during the 2016-17 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.