Former India star provides bizarre excuse for Cricket World Cup final defeat as Australia legend points out major hole in his argument

• Ambati Rayudu says the pitch was the reason for India’s defeat 
• READ: Australia defeated India in the World Cup final 
• India chose an older pitch but that decision backfired 

Ambati Rayudu has attributed India’s World Cup final defeat by Australia to the pitch, despite the tournament hosts opting to use the old wicket for the showpiece match in Ahmedabad.

One week on from their six-wicket defeat by Pat Cummins’ Australians, Rayudu believes the previously-unbeaten India were ‘way stronger’ than the new world champions on paper.

However, he says the pitch ended up favouring Australia and believes it ‘definitely should have been a much better wicket’ for a World Cup final.

This is despite the fact the BCCI wanted an older pitch that would have favoured the hosts’ team. 

‘Even the wicket was very, very slow and lethargic for a final,’ Rayudu said via Fox Sports. 

Ambati Rayudu has blamed the pitch for India’s World Cup final defeat by Australia

Pat Cummins outthought the Indians when it came to the toss last week

‘I don’t know whose idea it was. I think even a normal surface would have done because we were way stronger than the Australian side. We didn’t have to do all that in the final. It was just supposed to be a good cricketing wicket, which unfortunately it wasn’t.’ 

Rayudu admitted, though, that it was a case of self-sabotage for the India team. 

‘Somehow, people think that they are helping the Indian side by preparing a wicket like that. We got stuck on a wicket that was so slow. I don’t think that should happen,’ Rayudu said.

‘It should be a good cricketing wicket. We have the skill and strength in our side to beat any side. The pitch remaining the same throughout 100 overs is an ideal scenario in a limited-overs game. The toss shouldn’t matter that much.

‘… I don’t know if somebody has thought about it or done it on purpose. If they had done it on purpose, it’s stupidity. But I don’t think they would have done it.

‘If the pitch stays the same throughout the entire 100 overs, then it’s not a problem,’ Rayudu added when asked what changes are typically made when batting on a slower pitch.

‘Then you can play according to the conditions. But when you know or have a sense that dew might set in or the pitch might get flatter later on, you have to force yourself to not play that many more shots just to get that run rate up to par for the second innings.

‘That is where all the mistakes happen. That was a surface where it was not the same in the first 50 and the next 50 so I think for a World Cup final I definitely think it should have been a much better wicket.’

India chose an older pitch but that decision backfired spectacularly in Ahmedabad 

Brett Lee agreed that the decision backfired on India and that they had not expected Cummins to elect to bowl first.

‘The wicket wasn’t suitable for their line-up,’ Lee said.

‘Their home ground advantage was taken away last night because the wicket didn’t suit India’s quicks.

‘I think they prepared a wicket that was low and slow and ragged a fair bit. I think they were thrown off guard with Cummins bowling first.

‘They thought they would try get the runs on the board and defend. They caught India off guard and from there India were trying to play catch up.’

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