Cricket is all about innovations and taking the way forward Dharmshala has become the first Indian venue to introduce hybrid pitches.
As many as four artificial turfs were recently unveiled at the picturesque venue in presence of IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal and Paul Taylor, a former England cricketer and SIS’s international cricket director.
The project was undertaken by SISGrass, a UK-based company specialised in synthetic turf production.
According to Dhumal, the introduction of hybrid pitches is set to revolutionize cricket in India, following their success in iconic venues like Lord’s and The Oval in England.
What is hybrid pitch?
The hybrid pitch combines natural turf with synthetic fibres to make it more durable. It reduces the wear and tear across a full-fledged season. With the usage of five per cent artificial material, the wickets ensure that the traditional characteristics of a cricket pitch are retained.
How the artificial pitch is produced?
‘Universal Machine’ is used for preparing the hybrid surfaces. It was originally manufactured by SISGrass in 2017. The machine has been instrumental in preparing numerous wickets at various English County venues. Subsequently, the machine will be taken to Ahmedabad and Mumbai to create further such artificial pitches.
Notably, the Dharamshala outfield faced criticism during the 2023 ODI World Cup for its outfield and wicket.