Venue guide: Chase to win in Ahmedabad?

After one and a half months and 47 matches of constant action, the two finalists are ready to face each other in the grand finale of the 2023 World Cup. Most of the pundits predicted India and Australia to make it to the finals from the start of the World Cup. Hence, the final showdown did not come as a surprise. 

But how has the surface behaved at the Narendra Modi Stadium in this World Cup? Is it conducive for spinners? Is it a chasing venue? Or what kind of bowlers succeed on the Ahmedabad surface? Don't worry, we have you covered.

Chasing seems to be the way

The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad hosted four ODI matches before the final of this World Cup. In three of those, chasing teams have won it with ease. New Zealand humbled England in the season opener. The Blackcaps chased 280+ in just 36.3 overs. India outplayed Pakistan, and in the last match, South Africa chased 245 against Afghanistan.

Australia are the only team to win a game in Ahmedabad while defending (against England defending 286). 

It's not that chasing teams have gunned down high targets. Teams batting first have found it difficult to bat in the first innings. On average, teams have scored 251 runs in the first innings. Only in Lucknow, the average score is lower (238). 

Batting teams have lost a wicket every 25.7 runs in the first innings in Ahmedabad compared to 51.3 in the second. The first innings average is the lowest of all the ten venues, and the second innings average is the highest. 

Spinners thrive in the first innings but struggle in the second

Overall, the spinners have bagged 22 wickets in Ahmedabad at an average of 36.5 and a bowling strike rate of 44.7. By overall numbers, tweakers have a middling record - fifth-best at a venue. However, there is a striking difference in the first and second innings. 

In the first innings, the spinners have picked up 14 wickets at a staggering average of 25.8, the only venue in this WC where they average less than 30 in the first innings. They have taken a wicket every 33.1 balls. Only in Dharamsala, the bowling strike rate is better (31.2). But the numbers are poles apart in the second innings. 

Come the second innings, the tweakers have snaffled eight wickets while averaging 55.25 and a strike rate of 65.1. Regarding average, only at Chepauk (74.7) and Wankhede (62.3), it has been higher. Chennai? Ya, you read that right. Shocking. 

Short deliveries have worked well for the pacers 

Out of the 35 wickets bagged by the pacers at this venue, 15 have come from a good length and 15 from short (8m+). However, the balls/wicket rate is the best when the pacers bowl short. 

The pacers have bowled 30.5% of the deliveries short while conceding at 5.8 runs/over. In 47% of the balls they have bowled on a good length, the economy is the lowest (4.5). The fuller-length deliveries have been the most productive ones for the batters. The quicks should be mindful of not bowling too much on the fuller length, as they have conceded at 8.8.