India hit the nets at balmy Oval

Rohit Sharma and the full squad sweat it out under a mild London sun in preparation for WTC final vs Aussies starting Wednesday

- ASHISH MAGOTRA

It was a great day to play cricket at Surrey, the place that will play host to the final of the World Test Championship. The sun was out, everyone seemed to have opened the sunroofs of their car, the cyclists were out in force as well and a few of them were hunting for Team India autographs just outside The Oval… it was neither too hot, nor too cold. Precisely the kind of conditions that bring the best out of the batters, the bowlers, and perhaps the fans too.

The cricket, though, had to wait. It wasn’t time yet. The date, June 7, is almost upon us. The venue is flying the World Test Championship flags. The pitch looks green and the groundsman was giving it a healthy meal of water before the covers were put on late in the evening. The finishing touches are still being put on the ground but The Oval will be ready to host its first-ever Test in June when India and Australia clash.

The buzz for the moment seems non-existent but it’ll build up no doubt. The International Cricket Council thinks that this is a neutral venue but when India are involved, can any venue remain neutral? From the ground and the pitch conditions perspective, it might be. But there is only one team the crowd will be backing.