IND vs NZ Pitch Controversy: Ahmedabad Pitch 3rd T20 – Ranchi, Lucknow and what about Ahmedabad? India Cricket Team are scratching their head after two spin-heavy pitches with no assistance to batters. Hardik Pandya has already slammed the two pitches, saying they are not good for T20 cricket. As India head to Ahmedabad for the series-deciding 3rd T20, there is not a lot of good news. Hardik remembers well how the Narendra Modi Stadium pitch behaved in the IPL 2022 Final. He played the match-winning knock. And considering how the Motera Stadium pitches have been of late, India are in a spot of bother. Follow IND vs NZ 3rd T20 LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Despite having in-form batters, India have struggled to score in the series against NewZealand. But Lucknow came up with a shocker of a wicket. Kiwis could only score 99/8 in 20 overs. India did not fair well either. Despite home conditions, India scrapped past NZ with just a ball to spare. Spinners dominated in both matches with little for the batters.
“To be honest, it was a shocker of a wicket. Both the games we have played so far. I don’t mind difficult wickets. I am all up for that, but these two wickets are not made for T20. Somewhere down the line the curators or the grounds that we are going to play in should make sure they prepare the pitches earlier,” Hardik Pandya said after the 2nd T20.
IND vs NZ Pitch Controversy: Ranchi & Lucknow pitches surprise Hardik Pandya, Check how Ahmedabad Pitch will behave in SERIES-DECIDER, Follow LIVE Updates
Ranchi Pitch: Batting first seemed easy as NZ posted 176/6. Pacers had hardly any role to play. But what looked an excellent batting surface for Kiwis with even covering of grass, it turned out to be a turner in 2nd innings. Mitchell Santner bowled four overs for 2 wickets, giving away just 11 runs.
Lucknow Pitch: Both Danny Morrison and Ajit Agarkar predicted a tacky wicket and it delivered on point. NewZealand could only post 99 runs batting full 120 deliveries plus 9 extra balls. In 129 balls, 99 runs isn’t a good advertisement for T20 cricket. Lucknow pitch gave India a highlight of a difficult Dhaka’s Sher-E-Bangla stadium pitch.
Ahmedabad T20 Pitch 3rd T20: It brings to the pitch for 3rd T20. Brace yourself for another low-scoring thriller. If IPL 2022 final is anything to go by, scoring every run will be difficult. In Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals final, RR could only post 130/9 in 20 overs. In-form Jos Buttler managed 39 off 35 deliveries. Once the shine of the ball is off, it will be an equally difficult pitch to bat on.
Hopeful that Ahmedabad pitch curator will make high scoring pitch in 3rd T20i. Turning wicket in T20I spoil the whole mood to watch the game. Turning wicket should be in ODIs and Test only.#INDvNZ #CricketTwitter
— 💙 (@realKanhaiyaLal) January 29, 2023
Ahmedabad Pitch Stats (T20s):
- Average 1st innings total: 152
- Average 2nd Innings Total: 145
- Highest Total: 224 (India vs England)
- Highest Score Chased: 166 (India vs England)
- Lowest Score Defended: 107 (WestIndies-W vs India-W)
We din’t play the game. It was the Pitch that played with us. With no sixes but a win, Cracker awaits at Ahmedabad. #INDvNZ #INDvsNZ #NZvIND #NZvsIND
— Sharon Solomon (@BSharan_6) January 29, 2023
Before the IPL final, the distinct black soil offered a different wicket for three different formats in Ahmedabad. In Tests, it was a rank-turner, in ODIs, it was a moderately difficult pitch to bat on. In T20s, it was batting heaven. Last time India played a T20 back in 2021, India posted a huge 224-run total. England fell short but could still score 188. But India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik hopes Ahmedabad pitch will be different than it was in IPL 2022 Final.
“Ahmedabad will be a better wicket than the first two matches for sure. Lucknow had good wickets. But it completed assisted spinners in 2nd T20. But Ahmedabad will be much more balanced,” Dinesh Karthik told Cricbuzz.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer too wants a better pitch in Ahmedabad.
“I feel Ahmedabad will have better batting conditions. I feel it will be a good game. I’ll be surprised if there is so much spin because generally, we get to see a lot of good games in Ahmedabad. Probably a score around 160-170 is what I am expecting and the pitch to play a lot better compared to the last two games,” he said.
IND vs NZ Pitch Controversy: Ranchi & Lucknow pitches surprise Hardik Pandya, Check how Ahmedabad Pitch will behave in SERIES-DECIDER, Follow LIVE Updates
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