“Don’t know whose idea it was” – Ambati Rayudu expresses disappointment with World Cup 2023 final pitch

Former Indian batsman Ambati Rayudu has expressed his opinion on the pitch used for the 2023 World Cup final between India and Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Rayudu believes that the pitch was not suitable for such a crucial match.

According to Rayudu, the summit clash should not have been played on a slow and sluggish surface. During his appearance on The Ranveer Show, he remarked that the Ahmedabad pitch wasn’t conducive to good cricket. In the match, the Men in Blue, after being put in to bat first, managed to post a below-par total of 240 runs. The Indian batsmen faced difficulties getting going in the middle overs, and the loss of wickets at crucial moments prevented them from accelerating towards the end of the innings.

Rayudu said “Even the wicket was very, very slow and lethargic for a final. I don’t know whose idea it was. I think even a normal surface would have done because we were way stronger than the Australian side. We didn’t have to do all that in the final. It was just supposed to be a good cricketing wicket, which, unfortunately, it wasn’t.”

Rayudu noted that the pitch conditions improved for batting during the second innings, allowing Australia to comfortably chase down the target with six wickets to spare. In his assessment, Rayudu emphasized that in a 50-over game, the pitch should ideally provide a fair contest between bat and ball, and the conditions in the World Cup final did not meet these expectations.

Adding “Somehow, people think that they are helping the Indian side by preparing a wicket like that. We got stuck on a wicket that was so slow. I don’t think that should happen. It should be a good cricketing wicket. We have the skill and strength in our side to beat any side. The pitch remaining the same throughout 100 overs is an ideal scenario in a limited-overs game. The toss shouldn’t matter that much.”