'BCCI must investigate': Curator's decision to go against Team India directive resulted in loss vs England at Chepauk last year

England in Chennai, starting 5 February 2021, the curator appointed by the BCCI went against the directions given to him by the Indian team management and altered the nature of the pitch, a move that wrecked Team India's strategy the next morning going into the game. Some damning revelations are coming forward and TOI understands that those who were gravely affected by this move on part of the BCCI curator are willing to come and speak in the open should the cricket board call for an investigation. "Ravi Shastri and Bharat Arun were at the Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk on the evening of February 4, a day before the start of the Test against England.

The head coach and the bowling coach explicitly told the curator and the groundsmen that the pitch should be left the way it is, and the water and roller should not be used. Having conveyed it with absolute clarity, they left the stadium with the rest of the team," sources who were present at the venue that evening say. After Shastri and Arun left the venue, the BCCI curator who was present there told the groundsmen that he had been 'asked' by a 'higher authority' to water the pitch and roll it.

He did so without being questioned by the local groundsmen who have no authority on these matters except listening to instructions. There are those who want the BCCI to investigate 'who made the call that evening to the curator'. "He (curator) watered the pitch, brought out the roller, and the next morning, the wicket was a 'paata' (flat deck)," sources added.

England won the toss and elected to bat first on a track that resembled a highway. Riding on Joe Root's 377-ball 218, the visitors posted 578 runs on board and eventually won the Test match. Absolutely miffed at the curator's