The International Cricket Council (ICC) has brought transparency to the debate surrounding the pitch at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where the 2023 ODI World Cup final unfolded. The pitch, under scrutiny for its role in the final and semifinal games, has now received an official rating from ICC match referee Andy Pycroft.
In the highly anticipated final held on November 19, Australia clinched victory on a previously used track, raising concerns before the match and leading to post-match analysis. Australia’s captain Pat Cummins had expressed reservations about the pitch, which had seen action during the India-Pakistan match on October 14. Post the final, former captain Ricky Ponting suggested that India’s strategic use of the pitch had “backfired.”
As per a detailed report in the Times of India, the Ahmedabad pitch, central to discussions and controversy, has been classified as “average” by ICC match referee Andy Pycroft. Notably, five out of India’s 11 World Cup matches, including the final, were played on pitches with an “average” rating. This assessment stands in contrast to the “good” rating given by former India bowler Javagal Srinath for the semifinal against New Zealand in Mumbai.
During a subsequent review session with BCCI officials, India’s head coach Rahul Dravid reportedly attributed the team’s loss in the final to the Ahmedabad pitch. Dravid emphasized that the pitch did not exhibit the expected turn, impacting India’s ability to contain Australia’s chase.
