Josh Hazlewood’s Shocking Ranking of Indian Stadiums: CSK Home Ground Worst?
A Surprising Take: Josh Hazlewood Ranks Indian IPL Venues
In the high-octane world of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the battle between bat and ball is often decided by the nature of the pitch. For a fast bowler, some grounds are a dream, while others can feel like a nightmare. Recently, Josh Hazlewood, the seasoned Australian pacer currently spearheading the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) attack, shared his personal perspective on the various stadiums across India in a blind ranking exercise. The results were nothing short of shocking for many cricket enthusiasts.
Hazlewood has been a pivotal figure for RCB, establishing himself as a reliable weapon in both the powerplay and the death overs. After a slow start to the latest season due to an injury that ruled him out of the initial matches, the Australian has returned to supreme form, proving why he is considered one of the most disciplined bowlers in the world. However, it is his opinion on the venues that has now grabbed the headlines.
The Shocking Bottom Spot: MA Chidambaram Stadium
Perhaps the most controversial part of Hazlewood’s ranking was his placement of the MA Chidambaram Stadium, better known as Chepauk. The home ground of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the fortress of MS Dhoni was ranked as the worst venue in India by the pacer.
This is a particularly striking opinion considering Hazlewood’s history; he has previously played for the Chennai Super Kings before making the move to RCB. Traditionally, Chepauk has been regarded as a bowling paradise, though primarily for spinners who can exploit the slow, turning tracks. For a hit-the-deck pacer like Hazlewood, the lack of pace and bounce at this venue likely contributed to its position at the bottom of his list.
The Irony of the Top Three: A Pacer’s Paradox
If ranking Chepauk last was surprising, Hazlewood’s top three choices were even more unexpected. When asked to name his favorite grounds in India, the Australian selected:
- M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru)
- Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad)
- Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai)
To any cricket analyst, this list seems paradoxical. The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is notorious for being one of the highest six-hitting arenas in the country, often leaving bowlers feeling helpless. Similarly, the Wankhede is known for its high-scoring nature and fast outfields, and the Narendra Modi Stadium has seen scores exceeding 200 become incredibly difficult to defend.
Despite these venues being traditionally “batter’s paradises,” Hazlewood has found success at the Chinnaswamy. He has managed to pick up a significant number of wickets for RCB there, benefiting from the specific characteristics of the Deccan soil and his own ability to maintain a tight line and length even when the boundaries are short.
Analysis of Other Venues
The blind ranking continued with other notable mentions. One of the most interesting inclusions was the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Despite the ground generally being considered difficult for fast bowlers to find consistent success, Hazlewood placed it in the ninth spot. This ranking comes on the heels of a brilliant performance where he claimed four wickets in a recent clash against the Delhi Capitals on their home turf.
Interestingly, venues that are typically viewed as more pace-friendly—such as the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, and the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala—were ranked much lower on his list. This suggests that Hazlewood values the challenge or the specific bounce of the high-scoring grounds over the traditional assistance offered by pace-friendly tracks.
Conclusion: A Unique Perspective
India’s vast array of international-standard infrastructure allows the IPL to host games in diverse locations, from the foothills of the Himalayas in Dharamshala to the humid coasts of Chennai. While most pacers dread the short boundaries of Bengaluru or the flat decks of Ahmedabad, Josh Hazlewood’s rankings prove that success is often subjective. By thriving in conditions that normally favor the batter, Hazlewood continues to showcase the mental toughness and skill that make him a world-class operator in the shortest format of the game.
