Spinners might struggle heavily on this flat Motera wicket
Cricket enthusiasts gearing up for Sunday’s massive Super Eights showdown must pay close attention to the playing conditions in Ahmedabad. Ground staffs at the Motera stadium have prepared a completely bald, black soil surface that promises true bounce, potentially leaving slow bowlers with virtually no assistance. Because every single blade of grass has been shaved off, the deck looks exceptionally flat and ready for action.
Instead of utilizing the available red soil or mixed pitches at the venue, curators opted strictly for a black soil track this time around. Such a surface typically plays right into the hands of fast bowlers and batters looking for reliable bounce. Consequently, the Indian management faces a massive selection headache heading into this vital T20 World Cup encounter. Should they rely on an extra spin option, or will bolstering the pace attack be the smartest tactical move?
Vice-captain Axar Patel will likely return to the playing XI, stepping in for Washington Sundar. However, head coach and captain must carefully consider whether fielding Kuldeep Yadav as a third spinner makes sense on this specific ground. Arshdeep Singh's lethal accuracy during the final overs might prove far more valuable on a deck offering good carry. Interestingly, Kuldeep spent significant time bowling to Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh during an optional practice session under the blazing sun. Since frontline bowlers usually rest right before match day, his intense workload strongly suggests he might sit out the actual game.
Quinton de Kock confirmed these suspicions during a recent press interaction, noting that Ahmedabad wickets traditionally favor seam bowling with almost zero turn on offer. Backing this sentiment, a former Gujarat captain mentioned that the deck looks incredibly flat, providing excellent value for batters playing aggressive shots. He confidently stated that picking a fast bowler like Arshdeep over Kuldeep is the only logical choice under these specific playing conditions.
