Why India find it tough to win big cricket matches in Ahmedabad

The 10th edition of the T20 World Cup is set for an exciting title showdown with India facing New Zealand at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. And despite the fact that the Men in Blue are the co-hosts as well as defending champions, there won’t be a solid favourite heading into the upcoming showdown at Motera.

The Black Caps, after all, had ruthlessly outperformed South Africa in the first semi-final at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Wednesday, in complete contrast with India's nervy seven-run victory over England in a high-scoring encounter at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium the very next day.

Given the manner in which the Black Caps opener Finn Allen had demolished a world-class South African bowling attack and the Mitchell Santner-led side executed their plans with the ball, the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team will have to pull off an extraordinary performance to becoming the first team to win back-to-back titles.

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How Ahmedabad continues to haunt Indian cricket fans

That, however, isn’t the only reason why Indian cricket fans will be worried ahead of Sunday’s final. They will be just as concerned with the venue for the championship match as they will for New Zealand’s red-hot form.

The venue, after all, brings back unpleasant memories of 19 November, 2023 – the day the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team suffered a six-wicket defeat at the hands of Australia in the final of the ICC World Cup after bulldozing their way through the tournament without losing a single match.

And though more than two years have gone by since the Aussies won their sixth 50-world title, many an Indian cricket fan is yet to move on from that heartbreak.

It was also at the Narendra Modi Stadium where India have suffered their only defeat of the ongoing T20 World Cup so far – getting thrashed by the Aiden Markram-led South African team by 76 runs in their opening Super 8 match on 22 February.

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India, in fact, have suffered just two defeats in their last four ICC events stretching all the way back to the 2023 World Cup, and both have occurred at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Looking back at the two defeats, the first thing that stands out is the fact that the Narendra Modi Stadium – or at least the pitch prepared in those two matches – wasn’t quite the kind of wicket that the Men in Blue are generally used to at home, especially in bilateral competitions.

After all, the pitch that was used in the 2023 final was a black soil wicket that was a little on the sluggish side and would have been especially difficult for the team batting first. It was evident in the manner in which India could manage just 241 after being invited to bat by Pat Cummins, a total that was easily overhauled by Australia in the end thanks to Travis Head’s magnificent 137 off 120 balls.

It was no different in India’s sound thrashing against the Proteas a fortnight ago, with a black-soil pitch proving to be India’s undoing once again. India had South Africa on the ropes after being asked to bowl first, reducing them to 20/3 at the end of the fourth over before the middle-order trio of David Miller (63), Dewald Brevis (45) and Tristan Stubbs (44 not out) came to their rescue and lifted them to a challenging 187/7.

The Indian batting unit were under pressure from ball one later in the evening and could only manage 111 in reply.

Will Narendra Modi Stadium be any different this time? 

The good news for Indian cricket fans, however, is that the pitch for Sunday’s final won’t be a black-soil wicket, and will be a lot similar to the one at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium where 499 runs had been scored in the semi-final on Thursday.

According to ESPNCricinfo, the centre pitch of the world’s largest cricket stadium will be used for the final and will be a mixed-soil wicket with red as well as black soil being used. It’s also as good as a fresh wicket, with this particular strip having hosted just one game – the Group D game between South Africa and Canada on 9 February.

The pitch, additionally, is expected to offer minimal turn, as well as good pace and bounce. So while there will be some support to seamers across both camps, it is the batters who will be relishing the thought of hunting for runs on this wicket on Sunday evening.