Superstitions and cricketers have always had an interesting relationship. Be it Sachin Tendulkar who wore his left pad first or Steve Waugh who always carried a red handkerchief in his pocket while batting, cricketing folklore has had such amusing nuggets over the years.
But, the Indian team as a whole seem to have gone a step further in their quest for a second consecutive T20 World Cup title. The Men in Blue, who won the tournament in 2024, edged a gutsy England in the semifinal in Mumbai to set up a final date with New Zealand on March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
There have been reports that a key member of the support staff has been seeking divine blessings at every venue where the team has played, and before the semifinal, the Indian team delayed its training session by 45 minutes to avoid the "ill-effects" of lunar eclipse. And, ahead of the final tomorrow, the BCCI has changed the team hotel. Though no official statement has been made, it is believed that the decision was taken as the Indian team stayed at this hotel when they lost the 2023 ODI World Cup final and this year’s T20 World Cup Super Eight match against South Africa. There are also reports that the Indian team would be changing the dressing room as well, opting for the visiting team’s one.
Will India opt for a mixed-soil pitch for the final?
India are not leaving it all to luck, either, it seems. India lost to South Africa earlier in the tournament while playing on a black soil pitch. So, according to an Indian Express report, the hosts might opt for a mixed-soil pitch for the final against New Zealand. The mixed-soil strip will be the same one on which South Africa played Canada in the group stage and scored 213/5. Canada managed 156/8 in response. An ESPNCricinfo report said the centre pitch is likely to be used for the match.
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- T20 World Cup: Pakistan player misbehaved with hotel staff? Here’s what happened
The higher percentage of red soil in the pitch will make it easier for batting and also offer good bounce and minimal turn. Black soil tends to make the pitch sluggish, making it difficult for the batters to play free-flowing shots. The Wankhede pitch, where Sanju Samson led India to a mammoth total of 253/7, was a red soil one.
India coach Gautam Gambhir and the team management were, reportedly, unhappy with some of the pitches offered earlier in the tournament.
With India hoping to become the first host nation to win the T20 World Cup, and the first team to successfully defend the title, the management seems to be in no mood to leave any stones unturned to realise the goal.
