‘Proudest moment of my career’: Merivale’s Indian Head Chef creates special menu for SCG Test

Forget beer and a pie, fans can now get Vada Pav, Masala Chips and a Frozen Mango Lassi between wickets.

The SCG has just turned pink for the fifth and final cricket test between Australian and India. It’s turned spicy.

Merivale, who operate the food and beverage within the iconic stadium, have created a Cultural Menu for the test serving up traditional Indian dishes like Samosa Chaat and Vada Pav at outlets.

The menu has been created by Merivale’s SCG Head Chef Simranjit Gill, who hails from Mumbai.

Inspired by his upbringing in Mumbai watching his mother and grandmother cook, Gill (whose nickname is Sunny) took six months to develop the menu with more than 10 menu trials.

Merivale’s SCG Head Chef Simranjit Gill aka Sunny Gill. Chef Sunny Gill with a selection of the Merivale Indian cuisine on offer ahead of Day 1 of the Sydney Pink Test match between Australia and India at the SCG on January 3, 2025. Photo by Phil Hillyard

There are 13 items on the 2025 Pink Test Cultural Menu which are available at outlets throughout the stadium. They include everything from Break Pakora, a North Indian teatime snack made with sliced bread, spiced potatoes, coated in a crisp gram flour, a Lamb Curry Pie and Masala Chips. And for dessert, there is a frozen mango lassi.

Of course, there is also butter chicken, vegetable samosas and chicken paneer but they’ve already been made a feature of the Merivale menu prior to this test.

Gill said creating the menu with flavours from home for such an important test match has been the “proudest moment” of his career.

“As a child I watched my mum cook a lot and that influenced me to pursue a career in cooking,” he said. “To bring the food from where I grew up in India to the Sydney Cricket Ground and cook for thousands of people is the biggest and proudest moment of my career.”

It’s projected that over 20 000 serves of Masala Chips, 15 000 lamb curry pies and 10 000 Vada Pav will be sold during the five day test. Photo by Phil Hillyard.

Its projected that the over 20 000 Masala chips (Golden, crispy fries, seasoned with an aromatic blend of spices), 15 000 chicken paneers, 15 000 lamb curry pies and 10 000 Vada Pav will be sold over the five days of the test match.

Members of the pink parade as the Sydney test turns Pink for its 17th collaboration with the Jane McGrath foundation. Photo: Tom Parrish

THE NEW ITEMS ON THE 2025 PINK TEST CULTURAL MENU

Entrée:

Bread Pakora – North Indian teatime snack made with sliced bread, spiced potatoes, coated in a crisp gram flour. Accompanied by a side of sweet and green chutney

Samosa Chaat – Smashed samosa topped with a spicy tangy chole, yoghurt and chutney. A popular Indian street food.

Main Course:

Vada Pav – Deep fried potato fritter served in a soft bun, accompanied with garlic, tamarind and mint chutney, served with a side of deep-fried green chilli

Lamb curry pie – Slow braised lamb shanks in a flavourful curry sauce, encased in flaky pastry

Masala chips – Golden, crispy fries, seasoned with an aromatic blend of spices

Desserts:

Kala Jamun with Rabdi – North Indian traditional deep-fried doughnuts full of cardamom, and saffron flavours, served with a side of Rabdi.

Chocolate Burfi – Chocolatey Indian style fudge with milk solids, cocoa, sugar, and cardamom

Frozen Mango Lassi – Sweet and creamy frozen lassi flavoured with mangoes, garnished with pistachio