Narendra Modi Stadium Pitch Report: Batting or Bowling Friendly?
Table of Contents
Narendra Modi Stadium –Overview
Narendra Modi Stadium, located in Motera, Ahmedabad (Gujarat), is the world’s largest cricket stadium with a seating capacity of 1,32,000 spectators. It is owned by the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) and serves as the home ground for IPL team Gujarat Titans.
The stadium was originally built in 1982 as the Sardar Patel Stadium. It was demolished in 2015 and completely rebuilt at a cost of around ₹800 crore. The new version opened in 2020 and was renamed Narendra Modi Stadium in 2021. The ground features 11 centre pitches, four dressing rooms, floodlights, and two ends known as the Adani Pavilion End and the
Pitch Report & Playing Conditions
The pitch at Narendra Modi Stadium is widely regarded as batting-friendly, offering true bounce and consistent pace, but it also provides opportunities for bowlers in the right conditions.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Surface | Batting-friendly, true bounce |
| Early Overs | Pacers can get swing & wickets |
| Middle Overs | Spinners get some turn |
| Death Overs | Batters can score freely; bowlers need yorkers/variations |
| Dew Factor | Helps batting in second innings (day-night matches) |
| Verdict | Slightly favors batting, but balanced for strategic bowling |
Weather Conditions & Dew Factor
- Climate: Ahmedabad experiences dry, sunny weather during most cricket seasons, minimizing rain interruptions.
- Temperature: Warm conditions can affect player stamina and bowling grip.
- Dew: Common in evening games, dew makes bowling difficult, especially for spinners, while aiding batsmen in chasing high totals.
Strategy Tip: Captains often prefer to bat first to exploit predictable pitch conditions and avoid dew issues in the second innings.
Toss Decision
In T20s and IPL matches, the data is surprising. According to IPL records, teams chasing (batting second) have actually won more matches than teams batting first. Out of IPL matches played here, the chasing team has won roughly 60% of the time. The dew factor in evening games plays a big role in this — it makes the ball slippery for bowlers and easier to hit for batters in the second innings.
In ODIs, batting first is generally preferred because scores of 300+ are common here and defending a big total on a pitch that may slow down slightly in the second innings is a safer strategy.
Simple rule to remember:
- Day-Night T20 / IPL → Consider chasing (dew factor helps)
- ODI (day match) → Bat first (post 300+ and defend)
- Test match → Bat first (pitch stays good for 2 days before wearing)
Narendra Modi Stadium – ODI Records
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 37 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 20 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 17 |
| Highest Team Total | 365/2 – South Africa vs India |
| Lowest Team Total | 85 – Zimbabwe vs West Indies |
| Highest Score Chased | 325/5 – India vs West Indies |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 240 |
Narendra Modi Stadium – T20 Records
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 11 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 7 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 4 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 166 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 143 |
| Highest Team Total | 234/4 – India vs New Zealand |
| Lowest Team Total | 66 – New Zealand vs India |
| Best Bowling Figures | 4/16 – Hardik Pandya vs NZ |
| Highest Individual Score | 126* – Shubman Gill vs NZ |
Narendra Modi Stadium – Test Records
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 16 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 4 |
| Matches Won Batting Second | 5 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 335 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 359 |
| Average 3rd Innings Score | 226 |
| Average 4th Innings Score | 147 |
| Highest Team Total | 760/7d – Sri Lanka vs India |
| Lowest Team Total | 76 – India vs South Africa |
Which Type of Bowler Takes the Most Wickets Here?
Based on IPL data, here’s how different bowling styles perform at Narendra Modi Stadium:
Right-arm bowlers dominate wicket-taking with 66 wickets compared to 20 by left-arm bowlers.
Breaking it down further:
- Right-arm fast-medium bowlers are the most dangerous — 26 wickets
- Right-arm fast bowlers — 14 wickets
- Left-arm slow (spin) bowlers — 9 wickets (surprisingly effective)
How batsmen get out here: Catches dominate — 65 out of ~92 wickets in IPL were caught. Only 15 were bowled out. This tells you one key thing — bowlers who generate false shots and induce edges are the most effective here. Think seam bowlers who move the ball off the pitch and spinners who get sharp turn.
Fantasy tip: Don’t just pick wicket-takers by name — pick bowlers who generate catches. Right-arm seamers in the powerplay and off-spinners in the middle overs are your best bets at this ground.
Player Types to Watch
| Role | Why |
|---|---|
| Power-hitting openers | Exploit fast outfield & true bounce |
| Spin all-rounders | Middle overs breakthroughs |
| Pace bowlers | Early wickets to shift momentum |
| Finishing batsmen | Death-over scoring |
Fantasy Cricket Tips – Narendra Modi Stadium
| Player Role | Recommended Action | Why / Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Top-Order Batsmen | Pick 2–3 openers | Exploit batting-friendly pitch & fast outfield |
| Power-Hitting Middle-Order | Pick 1–2 finishers | Can clear boundaries in middle & death overs |
| Pace Bowlers | Use early in innings | Swing & bounce can provide early wickets |
| Spin Bowlers | Target middle overs | Pitch slows slightly → good for breakthroughs |
| All-Rounders (Spin/Medium) | Include 1–2 | Provide balance: bat + bowl points |
| Captain / Vice-Captain Picks | Choose consistent scorers | Maximizes fantasy points based on pitch trends |
Conclusion
The Narendra Modi Stadium pitch generally favors batting, with opportunities for bowlers at key moments. For fantasy cricket and match strategy:
- Batters enjoy early and middle-over scoring opportunities.
- Bowlers must focus on early swing and middle-over spin.
- Toss-winning captains often prefer to bat first.
Whether it’s a T20, ODI, or day-night match, understanding the pitch and conditions at Ahmedabad can give both teams and fantasy players a competitive edge.
❓FAQs
Narendra Modi Stadium has a batting-friendly pitch with true bounce and good pace.
Ahmedabad is mostly a batting pitch, but bowlers can succeed with the right skills.
Yes, spinners get some turn in the middle overs, especially in longer matches.
The highest team score is 760/7 declared, scored by Sri Lanka vs India (Test match).
The first innings is best in day matches, while second innings helps batters in night games.
Top-order batters, right-arm pacers, and spin all-rounders usually perform well at
Narendra Modi Stadium
A pitch is batting-friendly if it has true bounce, good pace, and high scores.
It favors bowlers if there is movement, uneven bounce, or low totals.