The pitch in Ahmedabad is a hot topic, but is it really the game-changer everyone thinks it is?
As the fourth day of the match unfolds, Afghanistan's captain, Rashid Khan, is finding himself increasingly weary of the constant questions surrounding the Ahmedabad pitch and whether it offers an advantage. While the city is practically a second home to him, having spent four successful seasons with the Gujarat Titans and gearing up for a fifth in 2026, Rashid prefers to focus on his team's skills rather than the playing surface.
He's a familiar face at this venue, having taken 23 wickets in 23 IPL matches there. However, his experience in international T20 cricket on this ground is limited, with his only ODI here being against their upcoming opponents, South Africa, during the 2023 World Cup. The last thing Rashid wants is to dwell on the pitch conditions.
"To be honest, no one around the world will tell you how the wicket will behave before the game. Everyone gives their point of view. Sometimes it becomes a 250 wicket, sometimes it becomes a 150 wicket. To put those things in the mind a lot, I think it affects you mentally as well," Rashid explained. "Nowadays, what I'm hearing a lot is the discussion about the wicket in the ground. We don't really discuss the skills that we have. And we bring those skills into the game."
But here's where it gets interesting: the pitch itself. For the record, the upcoming match between Afghanistan and South Africa is slated to be played on a red soil pitch. This typically means more bounce than turn, which might lean towards favoring South Africa, especially with their squad boasting six seamers. If a black soil surface had been chosen, it would have been more conducive to Afghanistan's spin-heavy attack. A mixed surface, similar to the one where South Africa comfortably beat Canada, offered good carry and minimal turn, leading to a high-scoring game. That particular match was a night fixture, and while dew was anticipated, it barely materialized. A day game, like the one scheduled, negates the dew factor and, as former Gujarat Titans player David Miller suggested, could be "a bit slow and turn a little bit more during the day."
So, if you put all that together, it seems the conditions might actually be quite neutral. A pitch that could potentially benefit South Africa, combined with a start time that might suit Afghanistan, makes Rashid's emphasis on skill even more crucial. This is likely where the real difference between the two teams will lie.
"If you're playing on the same wicket and the opposition team have also played here and know the conditions well, it's not going to be favouring us. It's equal for everyone," Rashid reiterated. "Whoever takes the right decision at the right time in a pressure situation is going to be more successful."
Afghanistan enters this crucial match with more pressure after their opening loss to New Zealand, despite scoring a respectable 182. Coach Jonathan Trott was particularly critical of his seamers' performance in that game, stating they "just didn't bowl well enough." The trio of Fazalhaq Farooqi, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Ziaur Rahman conceded 98 runs in 8.5 overs for just one wicket. While not all three might feature against South Africa, Rashid is keen to see an improved bowling effort from whoever takes the field.
"The line and the length we bowled gave them free shots, especially in the Powerplay. We could have kept it a little bit tight. On that wicket, which is not much help for the seamers or the spinners, you have to keep it very tight and hit the right area consistently," he advised.
Rashid highlighted off-spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman as a prime example for his teammates to follow. Mujeeb, who opened the bowling against New Zealand, was Afghanistan's most economical bowler. Afghanistan might also bolster their spin attack by bringing in wrist-spinner Noor Ahmed from the bench. Noor missed the New Zealand game, with Afghanistan anticipating uneven bounce in Chennai, and he has never bowled against South Africa in a T20I. This could make him a surprise package, though he is familiar with the South African batsmen through the SA20 league.
And this is the part most people miss... Several Afghan players, including Rashid himself (as captain of MICT), Mujeeb, Sediqullah Atul, and previously Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Omarzai, have participated in South Africa's domestic T20 tournaments. This deep familiarity could offer an added strategic advantage.
"Personally, I've been playing for a long time and played with each and every one (of the South Africans) for a long time. It does help the youngsters who haven't played and give them the kind of idea of what's going to happen and what their mindset is," Rashid added.
However, Rashid also acknowledged that no franchise league can truly replicate the immense pressure and expectations of a World Cup. "If you play in the IPL, it's different. When you play in an ICC event, it's different. There is pressure when you play for your country so it's a different feeling," he stated. "You have to be always ready. And it's not that if a person has played a lot, he can't lose at all. You still have to bring your best game."
Afghanistan is well aware of the threat South Africa poses in World Cups. They were defeated by South Africa in the 2024 semi-final, which marked Afghanistan's first-ever appearance in the last four. South Africa went on to reach their first final, ultimately losing to India.
What are your thoughts on the Ahmedabad pitch? Do you believe it's truly neutral, or does it favor one side over the other? Share your opinions in the comments below!
