India's Ahmedabad pitch for World Cup final 'average': ICC

In its assessment of the pitch at Ahmedabad for the World Cup 2023 final between India and Australia, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said the pitch was "average".

The ICC updated its list of pitch and outfield ratings where surfaces for as many as eight World Cup matches across five Indian venues received an overall average rating, including five games involving hosts India.

The World Cup final on November 19 took place on the same pitch that hosted the India-Pakistan fixture five weeks earlier.

This decision was based on the recommendation of the ICC's pitch consultant, Andy Atkinson.

The track received an average rating for both games. Additionally, the surface at Eden Gardens used for the second semi-final between Australia and South Africa was also rated as average. Eden Gardens received the most average ratings, totalling five.

The surface for the first semi-final between India and New Zealand at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium received a rating of "good".

Despite concerns about the pitch being changed from a fresh surface to a used track before the match, the fears of it being slow did not materialise. The teams scored a total of 724 runs, including three centuries across both innings, with only one wicket falling to spin.

The ICC rates pitches and outfields for all international games using six ratings: very good, good, average, below average, poor, and unfit.