'Slightly better pitch would've helped them' - Harbhajan Singh slams Ahmedabad surface after India's shocking loss in the WC final

Team India faced a heart-wrenching six-wicket loss against Australia in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 as the Pat Cummins-led side continued their domination in world cricket and clinched their sixth title. After being put in to bat first, India were bundled out for a below-par total of 240 in their allotted 50 overs. In reply, Australia chased down the target comfortably in 43 overs courtesy of a magnificent hundred from Travis Head (137 off 120).

Following India’s loss, former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh criticized the pitch used for the final. The former off-spinner said that a normal flat surface would’ve benefitted India more rather than the slow wicket used in the summit clash.

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"I think it was the kind of pitch which was on the slower side. It was drier than the usual pitch. You know, I would have liked to see a pitch where a lot of scores like 300 plus been scored. That sort of pitch would have helped India more than this kind of pitch where, you know, you bring your opposition in the game,” said Harbhajan on India Today.

The 2011 World Cup winner further contended that a better pitch would’ve helped the Indian batters perform better than what they did.

"You know where your batters were in such great form. They looked really good throughout the tournament, and they were fantastic and very, very proud of them. The way they play their cricket. I think, a slightly better pitch would help them to perform better than what happened," said Harbhajan.

Indian batters failed to score on the slow wicket

Notably, the Men in Blue lost three wickets inside the first 11 overs, following which, KL Rahul (66 off 107), Suryakumar Yadav (18 off 28) and Ravindra Jadeja (9 off 22) failed to get themselves going and India had to settle for a below par total in the first innings.

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Meanwhile, India’s dismal run in the ICC tournaments since 2014 continued as they once again failed to clinch the trophy after qualifying for the knockout stages of the tournament. The Men in Blue have qualified for the knockouts nine times out of the last ten ICC events but are yet to win a title.