Why Rahul Dravid gifted Rs 35,000 to Green Park ground staff last time India played a test in Kanpur?

Rahul Dravid was the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team from November 2021 to June 2024.

The Green Park stadium in Kanpur is currently hosting the second test match of the ongoing series between India and Bangladesh. The IND vs BAN test in Kanpur got underway on Thursday morning, albeit with a delayed start due to a wet outfield that was caused by the overnight rain.

This is the 24th test match that is being played at Green Park, Kanpur, with the ground hosting its maiden test in 1952.

In Kanpur, India have won seven tests and lost three, while the rest 13 tests were drawn.

The previous test match here also ended in a draw. It was between India and New Zealand in November 2021. It was a thrilling test match in which New Zealand escaped by only one wicket when Rachin Ravindra and Ajaz Patel survived the last 52 balls of the fifth day.

After the match, India’s then head coach Rahul Dravid made a grand gesture for the ground staff at Green Park in Kanpur by gifting them Rs 35000. The reason for that is an interesting one.

Why did Rahul Dravid gift Rs 35,000 to Green Park ground staff the last time India played a test in Kanpur?

Rahul Dravid gifted Rs 35,000 to the ground staff at Green Park, Kanpur, after the IND vs NZ test in November 2021 after being impressed by the pitch. The money Dravid gave to the ground staff was a token of appreciation for preparing a good pitch that lasted five days of the test match and didn’t offer any significant amount of turn or grip as pitches in India generally have in the last few years.

Shiv Kumar, the pitch curator, had told ANI, “He [Dravid] said we weren’t expecting this type of pitch over the course of five days in the Green Park stadium.”

The pitch was slow and low, and despite India having all three of R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel, they were not able to bowl New Zealand out in the fourth innings of the match.

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