Enhancing Cricket Pitch Conditions: The Role of Geotextiles and Soil Management

In recent World Cups, misconceptions about pitch conditions have been prevalent. This project seeks to address the disparity between Indian and international cricket pitches by incorporating geosynthetics and optimizing soil properties to improve water absorption, durability, and longevity. This initiative benefits ground staff and players by promoting consistent and competitive playing conditions across different regions. The soil samples for this study were source from MCA’s Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. A series of laboratory tests including soil index properties, compaction, and water absorption tests were conducted. The research underscores the critical role of pitch conditions in gameplay, highlighting how factors like soil structure, material composition, and environmental conditions impact ball behavior. Through experimental methods, we examined a three-layer soil structure intended to mimic the pitch design. Standard proctor test was conducted after placing geotextiles at various depths within the soil layers, determining the most effective placement. Results indicated that the use of geotextile enhances the stability and durability of cricket pitch soil. Specifically, placing the geotextile 5 cm from the surface yielded the best outcomes. Further, this study also identified the optimal moisture content through graphical analysis and simulated 50 mm of rainfall on two specimens with and without geotextile. The findings revealed that the specimen with geotextile indicating quicker drying.