Ranji Trophy Controversy: Jammu and Kashmir Accuses Baroda of Pitch Tampering

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A big controversy kicked off in the Ranji Trophy on Saturday morning when Jammu and Kashmir filed a formal complaint with the match referee, claiming that Baroda messed with the pitch before Day 3 play started at the Reliance Cricket Ground in Vadodara, Gujarat.

The drama unfolded right before the game was set to begin. Jammu and Kashmir's coach, Ajay Sharma, noticed a change in the pitch's color and suspected it had been tampered with.

He brought up his concerns with the on-field umpires, Pashchim Pathak and Ravi Teja, as well as the match referee, Arjan Kripal Singh. This led to a delay of about 1.5 hours before play finally kicked off at 10:55 AM.

Baroda really needs to win this one

Baroda Cricket Association has shot down all the accusations, insisting that there was no tampering with the pitch. An official mentioned that they plan to discuss the comments made by the Jammu and Kashmir coach with the BCCI.

"The claims from the J&K coach are unfounded. The outfield was wet, and with winter in play, there was some moisture on the pitch as well. Even the umpire noticed it. Anyone who's played cricket knows that during winter, the pitch can be damp, and the outfield might take a while to dry," the official told Indian Express.

"Matches can sometimes be delayed, but we won't stand for these allegations of pitch-fixing or blame directed at the association. We will be reaching out to the BCCI regarding the coach's comments," he added.

According to ESPNCricinfo, the official reason for the delay was "play was held up due to pitch dampness."

Baroda is chasing a target of 365 runs to win against Jammu and Kashmir. The team, led by Krunal Pandya, is in a tricky spot on the points table after Mumbai secured a solid victory over Meghalaya.

Baroda must win this match to make it to the knockout stage.

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