India change Ahmedabad hotel from 2023 World Cup final ahead of T20 World Cup decider, but not due to 'bad luck'

Team India will reportedly be staying at a new hotel in Ahmedabad as compared to the 2023 Cricket World Cup and may also change their dressing room at the Narendra Modi Stadium for the T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand in the hope of changing their recent ‘bad luck’ associated with the venue. There’s a mixed feeling among Indian fans as Team India advanced to the final of the T20 World Cup 2026, which will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (8 March).

The Indian national cricket team is on the verge of making history as no side has ever successfully defended the T20 World Cup title, but the fact that the match is being played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is making some fans uncomfortable. While India have a 7-3 win-loss ratio in 10 T20Is at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, they also have suffered some crushing defeats in big matches in recent years since the Sardar Patel Stadium was rebuilt in 2021.

India’s heartbreaks at Ahmedabad

The most unforgettable loss was India’s defeat to Australia in the final of the ODI World Cup 2023. Rohit Sharma’s India were unbeaten in the tournament till the final, but the home team and fans were silenced by the Aussies as they won by six wickets. Travis Head scored a match-winning 137 in that match.

In the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, India defeated the Netherlands by 17 runs at the same venue, but lost by a whopping 76 runs to South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in their first Super 8 match, putting them at risk of elimination.

The danger was averted with victories over Zimbabwe and the West Indies, but Team India management is reportedly in no mood to take any risk. The current management has been quite spiritual, making temple visits to earn an extra psychological edge and even delaying the training before the semi-final in Mumbai due to a lunar eclipse to avoid the ‘bad luck’ associated with the ‘chandra grahan’.

Team India change hotel, dressing room in Ahmedabad

On the same lines, popular cricket journalist and YouTube vlogger Vimal Kumar has revealed in conversation with News18 that Team India will be staying at a different hotel than where they stayed for the 2023 ODI World Cup final.

The veteran scribe also revealed that the visiting team’s dressing room will be used by the home team during the final, likely another attempt to ward off any bad luck.

“Nobody knows this. I am revealing this for the first time on News18 India,” Vimal Kumar said. “A lot of people are afraid that Ahmedabad is an unlucky ground for India. India team delayed their practice due to a lunar eclipse in Mumbai; they have been spiritual. In Ahmedabad, the Indian team will not stay in the same hotel as the 2023 ODI World Cup final.

“India is also going to change their dressing room. They will be using the visiting team’s dressing room. There’s one more change, but I cannot say it now. Maybe I will reveal if India win the T20 World Cup.”

Our sources have revealed that, according to ICC protocol, the first finalist (which is New Zealand) was always going to stay at ITC Narmada, a hotel where India stayed during the 2023 ODI World Cup final, and the second finalist (India in this case) will be staying at Taj Skyline.

Which means the hotel change is not deliberate but a part of the ICC protocol. There’s no confirmation on the change in the dressing room yet.