A source close to the happening said: “A few players were surprised to see a little grass on the wicket. Some of it will be chopped on match eve, and they were happy to hear that. Some grass will still be retained though.”

The wicket for the second Test has become a matter of discussion after India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s critical view of the Motera pitch despite winning the match by nine wickets. “I don’t even want to see this wicket.