Ambati Rayudu has blamed India’s World Cup final defeat against Australia on the pitch despite the tournament hosts opting to use the old wicket for the showpiece event in Ahmedabad.
A week after their six-wicket defeat to Pat Cummins’ Australians, Rayudu believes previously unbeaten India were ‘much stronger’ than the new world champions on paper.
However, he says the pitch ultimately went in Australia’s favor and believes it should have been ‘definitely a much better wicket’ for a World Cup final.
This is despite the fact that the BCCI wanted an older pitch which would have been to the advantage of the host team.
“Even the wicket was very, very slow and lethargic for a final,” Rayudu said, via Fox Sports.
Ambati Rayudu blames the pitch for India’s defeat to Australia in the World Cup final
Pat Cummins outsmarted the Indians last week when it came to the coin toss
‘I don’t know whose idea it was. I think even a normal surface would have done it because we were much stronger than the Australian side. We didn’t have to do any of that in the final. It just had to be a good cricket wicket, but unfortunately it wasn’t.”
However, Rayudu admitted that it was a case of self-sabotage for the Indian team.
“Somehow people think they are helping the Indian side by preparing such a wicket. We got stuck on a wicket that was so slow. I don’t think that should happen,” Rayudu said.
“It should be a good cricket wicket. We have the skill and strength in our team to beat any team. The pitch remaining the same for 100 overs is an ideal scenario in a limited overs game. The throw shouldn’t make much difference.
“…I don’t know if anyone thought about it or did it on purpose. If they did it on purpose, it was stupidity. But I don’t think they would have done it.
“If the pitch remains the same for the entire 100 overs, then it’s not a problem,” Rayudu added when asked what changes are usually made when batting on a slower pitch.
‘Then you can play according to the conditions. But if you know or have a feeling that dew might come or that the field might flatten later, you should force yourself not to play that many more shots just to get the run rate up for the second innings.
‘That’s where all the mistakes happen. That was a surface where it wasn’t the same in the first 50 and the next 50, so I think for a World Cup final it definitely should have been a much better wicket.”
India opted for an older pitch, but that decision backfired spectacularly in Ahmedabad
Brett Lee agreed that the decision backfired on India and that they did not expect Cummins to choose to bowl first.
“The wicket wasn’t suitable for their setup,” Lee said.
“Their home advantage was taken away last night as the wicket did not suit India’s quick pace.
“I think they prepared a wicket that was low and slow and quite ragged. I think they were caught off guard when Cummins bowled first.
“They thought they were going to try to get the points on the board and defend. They caught India off guard and from there India tried to catch up.”