What happened when India batted first at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad? Can hosts replicate same in T20 WC final?
The stats in Ahmedabad also favour India batting first. So far, India have played 10 T20Is at the Narendra Modi Stadium, winning eight and losing two. Out of their eight wins, India batted first in six of them. In the T20 World Cup 2026 final, India have been sent to bat first.
The Indian batters have been in red-hot form in the past three matches of the T20 World Cup 2026, scoring 700-plus runs, including two 250-plus totals. Be it batting first or chasing, the Men in Blue batted with perfection with Sanju Samson earning plaudits in two of those games.
If a report in ESPNcricinfo is to be believed, a wicket with a mixture of red and black soil will be on offer for both India and New Zealand in the final on March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, thus assisting both batter and bowlers with bounce and seam.
With scores of 170-plus in all the six games so far in the ongoing tournament, a high-scoring encounter is on cards on a Super Sunday. For the unversed, this will be the second time within a year that India and New Zealand will face in an ICC knockout final after 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
In a high-pressure final, toss always plays an important role, irrespective of the nature of the wicket. For India, it's always been bat first after winning the toss in both their T20 World Cup triumphs in 2007 and 2024. Only in 2014, India were asked to bat first after losing the toss.
The Men in Blue should bat first on Sunday if Suryakumar Yadav wins the toss in Ahmedabad. Not just being superstitious, but the home team's record say so in this edition. In eight matches so far, India have won six games while batting first. India won against West Indies while chasing.
Batting first for any team not only allows the batters to play with a clear mind, but at the same time also puts the opposition under the scoreboard pressure, just like in the cases of Pakistan and South Africa.
India in T20 World Cup finals so far
| Toss | Match | Tournament | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | India vs Pakistan | 2007 T20 World Cup Final | India | By 5 runs |
| Sri Lanka | India vs Sri Lanka | 2014 T20 World Cup Final | Sri Lanka | Lost by 6 wickets |
| India | India vs South Africa | 2024 T20 World Cup Final | India | By 7 runs |
The stats in Ahmedabad also favour India batting first. So far, India have played 10 T20Is at the Narendra Modi Stadium, winning eight and losing two. Out of their eight wins, India batted first in six of them, thus once again proving why batting first will be Suryakumar's go-to option if he wins the toss. In fact, out of six games played at this venue in this edition of the T20 World Cup, four teams have won batting first.
India's T20Is record in Ahmedabad
| Opposition | Result | Margin | Bat | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | Won | By 11 runs | 1st | 2012 |
| England | Lost | By 8 wickets | 1st | 2021 |
| England | Won | By 7 wickets | 2nd | 2021 |
| England | Lost | By 8 wickets | 1st | 2021 |
| England | Won | By 8 runs | 1st | 2021 |
| England | Won | By 36 runs | 1st | 2021 |
| New Zealand | Won | By 168 runs | 1st | 2023 |
| South Africa | Won | By 30 runs | 1st | 2025 |
| Netherlands | Won | By 17 runs | 1st | 2026 |
| South Africa | Lost | By 76 runs | 2nd | 2026 |
Both teams are coming into the final on the back of splendid performances in the semifinals. For New Zealand, revenge will on Mitchell Santner & Co's mind. All will depend on who handles pressure on the given day.
T20 World Cup 2026 matches in Ahmedabad
| Date | Match Type | Teams | Result | Bat first |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 9 | Group Stage | South Africa vs Canada | South Africa won by 82 runs | South Africa |
| February 11 | Group Stage | South Africa vs Afghanistan | South Africa won by 6 wickets | South Africa |
| February 14 | Group Stage | New Zealand vs South Africa | South Africa won by 7 wickets | New Zealand |
| February 18 | Group Stage | India vs Netherlands | India won by 17 runs | India |
| February 22 | Super 8s | India vs South Africa | South Africa won by 76 runs | South Africa |
| February 26 | Super 8s | West Indies vs Zimbabwe | West Indies won by 42 runs | West Indies |
| March 8 | Final | India vs New Zealand | TBD |
Catch the live action of the T20 World Cup 2026 with the complete T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule, and the T20 World Cup 2026 Points Table. Also, know who are currently leading the charts for Most Runs in T20 World Cup 2026 and Most Wickets in T20 World Cup 2026.
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Koushik lives and breathes sports. After transitioning from his own aspirations of becoming a professional athlete, he successfully channeled that lifelong passion into a prolific career, documenting the action both from the sidelines and the editorial desk. With over eight years of industry experience, Koushik joined LiveMint as a Deputy Chief Content Producer in 2024, following impactful stints at Outlook India, India.com, Sportskeeda, Women’s CricZone, and OrissaPOST. A 2017 Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Kolkata, Koushik has reported on high-profile events including the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017, Ranji Trophy, FIH Pro League, FIH World League finals, the Indian Premier League, and Lionel Messi’s historic visit to Kolkata in 2025. <br><br> While he possesses a versatile command over all sports, he finds his niche in cricket, specializing in breaking news, long-form interviews, global sporting updates, and high-energy live blogs. Koushik’s professional perspective was further sharpened through the 2020 AIPS Young Reporters Programme, where he gained invaluable insights from renowned international journalists, including Keir Radnedge and Riccardo Romani from the United Kingdom, and Martin Mazur from Argentina. Currently based between Kolkata and Delhi, Koushik remains at the forefront of the breaking developments that shape the public sporting discourse. When he isn't tracking scores or deconstructing plays, he can be found exploring new landscapes on his travels or channeling his creative energy into the kitchen. <br><br> If you have a compelling story to share or know an individual who deserves the spotlight, please reach out via email at <a href="koushik.paul@htdigital.in">koushik.paul@htdigital.in</a>.
Stay updated with all the latest news and insights on Cricket, Football, and Tennis at Livemint Sports. Catch the live action of theT20 World Cup 2026 with the complete T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule, and the T20 World Cup 2026 Points Table. Also, know who are currently leading the charts for Most Runs in T20 World Cup 2026 and Most Wickets in T20 World Cup 2026.