The final of the Cricket World Cup 2023 recently held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad has sparked a fiery debate on the condition of the pitch where the showdown took place between India and Australia. The condition of the pitch has been a recurring theme of discussion that had already started to gain momentum during the semi-finals.
This hot topic was further fueled by India’s defeat to Australia, prompting critics and fans alike to ponder whether the outcome could’ve been swayed if the pitch had been prepared with more care. Many wondered if the curators could have fashioned a wicket that favored high-scoring play more indicative of a one-day international final.
When approached for his expert analysis, Harbhajan Singh, former Indian cricketer known affectionately as Bhajji, weighed in on the conditions that perhaps impeded the performance of the Indian team. “I think it was the kind of pitch which was on the slower side. It was drier than the usual pitch,” Harbhajan commented during a chat on India Today. He expressed that a pitch facilitating scores upward of 300 would’ve suited India, by playing to the strengths showcased by the Indian batters throughout the tournament.
“You know where your batters were in such great form. They looked really good throughout the tournament, and they were fantastic and very, very proud of them. The way they play their cricket,” said Harbhajan, expressing pride in the team’s performance. He advocated for a surface that would have been slightly more conducive to India’s batting prowess, which might have tilted the scales in their favor during the final.
Despite the final’s unfavorable outcome, with Australia lifting the trophy, Bhajji maintained his belief in the dominance of the Indian side. He put forward the notion that, had the pitch mimicked the characteristic tendencies often seen in Ahmedabad, the narrative of the final could have read much differently. “I believe India was the superior side,” Harbhajan asserted.
The former off-spinner underscored this belief by revealing conversations he had with Australian friends, themselves cricketers from his time, before the final clash. “All of them, they said, India is just top side, and it will be India all the way,” he recounted, suggesting that the sentiment before the game favored the Indian team. However, credit was also given where due, as he acknowledged that the Australian team had come out with a well-executed plan and played exceptional cricket.
The cricketing fraternity at large recognized that while Australia’s victory was well-deserved, a distinct possibility remains that a different pitch condition could have seen a different outcome, perhaps one with more runs and a closer contest. “And, of course, if the wicket was on slightly on a better side, one with the ball coming nicely onto the bat, I think, we would have enjoyed more,” Harbhajan opined.
As the dust settles on the World Cup 2023, and teams reflect on their performances, the discourse around pitch conditions looks set to continue, with advocates for better-prepared surfaces making their voices heard.
For the cricketing world, updates on the aftermath of the World Cup 2023 continue to roll out, alongside the schedules for upcoming matches highlighting the sport’s never-ending cycle. Fans are keeping abreast with developments via social media and cricket apps, their passion for the game unwavering, even as debates over pitches, strategies, and team selections rage on.