AHMEDABAD: There has been much debate about the pitches favouring India and the BCCI switching pitches to suit the home team.

Head coach Rahul Dravid and the rest of the support staff have only added to the drama.

Before every game, they have gone to the venue straight from the airport, while the rest of the team members have gone to the hotel.

Mohammad Shami: A testament to skill, determination, and unwavering spiritTwo days prior to the final, a dark strip at the Narendra Modi Stadiumwas on view.Does it mean a sluggish surface, especially in the first innings like it happened in the game against Pakistan? In that game the ball also kept a touch low, as the dismissal of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam — bowled byMohammed Siraj — indicated.

Dravid and Rohit were engaged in a long discussion with the curator as soon as the covers came off from the pitch.

Bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, fielding coach T Dilip and batting coach Vikram Rathour joined in.

Dravid was also seen having a long conversation on his phone after seeing the surface.

Rohit then requested Dilip to give him a few drills of low catches to simulate slip catching against spin.

Is that a clue? The Indian skipper even had a long conversation with former batting coach Sanjay Bangar and former India player Mohammad Kaif, a member of the 2003 World Cup team that lost to Australia in the final, prior to heading to the nets area.

It was an optional training day for India and only six players attended the session.

Apart from the captain, allrounder Ravindra Jadeja, off-spinner R Ashwin, wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, vice-captain KL Rahul and seamer Prasidh Krishna were in attendance.

Ashwin had a spell with the ball and while batting, had a long hit against left-arm throwdowns.

Was he preparing for the threat of Mitchell Starc? Is the team management thinking of playing three spinners anticipating a low, slow track then? Or will they go with what has worked for them and remain unchanged since the Dharamshala game against New Zealand? The Aussies who travelled to the city from Kolkata will be having their first nets session on Saturday afternoon.

They will have happy memories of the venue, having beaten England a fortnight back.