Josh Hazlewood Shocks Fans: Ranks MS Dhoni’s CSK Home Ground as Worst in India

A Surprising Perspective from the RCB Pace Battery

In the high-octane world of the Indian Premier League (IPL), players often develop strong opinions about the venues they frequent. For Josh Hazlewood, the seasoned Australian speedster currently spearheading the attack for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), these opinions have now come to light in a rather shocking manner. Hazlewood, who has been in supreme form since returning from an injury that sidelined him for the initial stages of the latest season, recently took part in a blind ranking of cricket stadiums across India.

For any pacer, the surface of the pitch determines their success. India offers a vast array of international-standard infrastructures, ranging from the traditional hubs to newer venues like the ACA Stadium in Guwahati and the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. Having played for multiple franchises, including a stint with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) before joining RCB, Hazlewood has a wealth of experience on these varied tracks.

The Shocking Bottom Rank: MA Chidambaram Stadium

The most talking point of Hazlewood’s ranking was undoubtedly his assessment of the MA Chidambaram Stadium, the fortress and home ground of MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings. In a move that has left many fans surprised, Hazlewood placed this iconic venue at the absolute bottom of his list, labeling it the worst venue in India.

This is particularly intriguing because, historically, the MA Chidambaram Stadium has been regarded as a bowling paradise. However, the caveat is that it primarily facilitates spinners, offering grip and turn that can stifle any batting lineup. For a fast bowler of Hazlewood’s caliber, who relies on precision and seam movement, the slow and turning nature of the Chennai track may not be the most appealing environment to operate in.

The Top Three: A Pacer’s Love for Batting Paradises

While his distaste for the Chennai venue was clear, Hazlewood’s top choices were equally surprising. When asked to name the best stadiums in India, the Australian pacer selected the following as his top three:

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• M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru)
• Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad)
• Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai)

At first glance, this list seems counterintuitive. The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is notorious for being one of the highest six-hitting arenas in the country. Similarly, the Wankhede is known as one of the highest-scoring grounds in India, and the Narendra Modi Stadium has seen countless scores exceeding 200 that proved nearly impossible to defend.

Despite these being “batter’s heavens,” Hazlewood has found significant success at the Chinnaswamy. He has credited his promising record there to his ability to adapt, noting that he has benefited from the specific characteristics of the Deccan soil and the minimum amount of bounce offered, which he has managed to leverage to pick up crucial wickets.

Mixed Results and Unexpected Placements

The blind ranking continued to produce unexpected results. For instance, the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi was placed in the ninth spot. This ranking comes as a surprise considering Hazlewood’s recent dominant performance at the venue, where he tore through the Delhi Capitals’ lineup to claim four wickets in a single game. Typically, the Delhi ground is not known for offering much assistance to pace bowlers, yet Hazlewood’s individual success there didn’t translate into a high ranking for the stadium itself.

Furthermore, venues that are traditionally considered more pace-friendly—such as the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, and the picturesque Dharamshala—were placed much lower in his list than the high-scoring grounds of Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

Conclusion: A Unique Approach to the Game

Josh Hazlewood’s rankings serve as a reminder that every cricketer perceives a pitch differently. While a spinner might love the dust of Chennai, a world-class pacer like Hazlewood seems to prefer the challenge and the atmosphere of India’s most explosive batting tracks. As RCB continues its campaign, Hazlewood’s ability to thrive on the “flat” tracks of the Chinnaswamy will undoubtedly remain a key asset for the Bengaluru franchise.