There is a lot of talk about the pitch in the lead-up to the second Test between India and Australia at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.

The Pune curators drew a lot of criticism for producing a very dry wicket which saw the first Test in the series end in less than three days. On a pitch tailor-made for the Indian spinners, it was Australia who shocked the hosts with a 333-run win.

The Chinnaswamy Stadium, which has small boundaries and is known to favour batting in limited overs games, is likely to see a sporting pitch.

Speaking to English daily The Hindu, Karnataka State Cricket Association [KSCA] secretary Sudhakar Rao mentioned that the pitch will be prepared with the intention of the match lasting five days.

“Our intention is to prepare a sporting, Test match pitch. We want a five-day match. We definitely don’t want to see the match end in two and a half days,” said Rao.

“We like to keep some moisture underneath. So we haven’t stopped watering it. We’ll water it until two or three days before the match. Then we will see what the pitch looks like, two days out, and take a call.”

The Bengaluru Test begins on March 4.