• Source:JND
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ICC has announced the rating for the pitch of the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad used for the ODI World Cup 2023 final as they rated it as 'average.'

ICC match referee and former Zimbabwe batter Andy Pycroft, however, rated the outfield as "very good".

Notably, Australia defeated India in the final to clinch their sixth World Cup title, breaking the hearts of more than a billion people as the hosts were favorites heading into the summit clash.

 

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There was so much talk over the pitch used in the all-important match ahead and after the match as it was a used one and reportedly had an India vs Pakistan match played on it earlier in the tournament.

In the pre-match press conference, Australian captain Pat Cummins termed the pitch as a "pretty good wicket".

Meanwhile, the former Aussie captain Ricky Ponting claimed that the pitch prepared for the finals backfired on India.

The pitches used in India's league matches against South Africa, England, Pakistan, and Australia in Kolkata, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and Chennai respectively were also rated as 'average' by the ICC.

The pitch for the final was witnessed as a slow one on which India only managed to score just 240 runs in 50 overs after putting into bat first.

The Aussies achieved the target in 43 overs with opener Travis Head making a 120-ball 137.

However, the Wankhede Stadium pitch on which India faced New Zealand in the semifinals received a ‘good' rating.

There were media reports ahead of that match, suggesting that the hosts had switched pitch, offering a used surface instead of a fresh one.

The Eden Gardens pitch in Kolkata also received an 'average' rating which hoisted the second semi-final between Australia and South Africa.

The ICC has rated the pitches of five matches as average that the Indian team was involved in out of the 11 they played in the tournament.

India had a remarkable tournament and were the only undefeated side until the summit clash as they had won all of their 10 matches including the semi-final match against New Zealand.

 

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Later it was reported that the head coach Rahul Dravid and Indian captain Rohit Sharma mentioned that the pitch didn't behave as per their expectations as a reason for the defeat in the final during a review meeting held by the BCCI.