This Narendra Modi Stadium pitch report comes with a caveat: Ahmedabad does not play the same way every night. In recent IPL seasons it has produced plenty of 200-plus totals, including the venue record of 243/5 in 2025. Yet IPL 2026 also saw two teams bowled out for 100 or less here. Neither batting first nor chasing has held a lasting edge: across 53 IPL games here to the end of IPL 2026, each has won 26, with one tie.
A big part of the reason is the surface on the day, because the square has both red-soil and black-soil pitches. Some Ahmedabad pitches have been flat enough for 230-plus scores; on others, batting has been a struggle. The field is also big, which gives bowlers more margin for error than at a small ground like Bengaluru.
Quick verdict
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Batting or bowling? | Mixed: red-soil and mixed-soil strips favour batting; slower black-soil strips are harder work |
| Spin or pace? | T20s: both have had their days. Tests: spin won in 2021, 2023 was a run-heavy draw, and India beat West Indies by an innings in October 2025 |
| Recent toss choices | Captains have mostly bowled first |
| Batting first or chasing? | No lasting edge: 26 wins each in 53 IPL games, plus one tie (to the end of IPL 2026) |
| Last five IPL games (to 31 May 2026) | First-innings totals from 155 to 229 |
| Conditions | Very hot and dry in April and May |
The ground
The stadium stands in Motera, Ahmedabad, on the site of the old Motera ground. The Gujarat Cricket Association decided in 2015 to rebuild it, and the new stadium was finished in 2020. It holds more than 1.3 lakh spectators. That makes it by far the largest cricket stadium in India, and it is widely described as the largest in the world.
It is home to Gujarat Titans in the IPL and to the Gujarat state team. The playing area is large: the GCA lists the field at 180 by 150 yards. Mishits that clear the rope in Bengaluru can be caught here.
Ahmedabad staged the 2023 ODI World Cup final and the 2026 T20 World Cup final, plus the IPL final in 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2026.
Narendra Modi Stadium pitch report: IPL and T20 cricket
When the pitch is flat, Ahmedabad scores big. Punjab Kings' 243/5 against Gujarat Titans in March 2025 is the highest IPL total here, and GT replied with 232/5 to lose by just 11 runs. In the 2026 T20 World Cup final, India made 255/5 against New Zealand, the highest total ever made in a T20 World Cup final, and won by 96 runs.
IPL 2026 was more of a contest between bat and ball. Rajasthan Royals' 210/6 and GT's 229/4 against Chennai Super Kings were the big scores. But Sunrisers Hyderabad were bowled out for 86, the lowest IPL total at the ground, and GT themselves were dismissed for 100 against Mumbai Indians.
Red soil, black soil and mixed pitches
The first match-day question in Ahmedabad is which strip is in use. Red-soil pitches have a history of being good for batting. Black-soil pitches are generally slower and the bounce is less consistent, which suits bowlers who take pace off the ball. Mixed pitches, roughly 70% red soil to 30% black, are also prepared, and they are generally pacy with consistent bounce. The Rajasthan Royals game in April 2026 and the T20 World Cup final were both reported to be on mixed-soil pitches.
Pace, spin and the size of the field
In T20 cricket there is no strong lean either way. Pacy mixed-soil strips give quick bowlers something with the new ball, and as the surface dries, cutters and slower balls come into play. Spinners who bowl into the pitch and use the size of the field can be just as effective, because a batter has to hit the ball a long way to clear the ropes.
Tests are a different story, and the strip chosen makes all the difference. In the 2021 day-night Test, England were bowled out for 112 and 81 and India won by 10 wickets inside two days, with Axar Patel's left-arm spin doing most of the damage. The 2023 Test against Australia was a run-heavy draw in which Australia made 480 in their first innings. Most recently, in October 2025, India made 448/5 declared and beat West Indies by an innings and 140 runs, bowling them out for 162 and 146.
In ODIs, the 2023 World Cup final was modest-scoring: India made 240 and Australia won by six wickets with seven overs to spare.
Last 5 matches at the Narendra Modi Stadium
To the end of IPL 2026 (31 May 2026), these were the five most recent IPL matches here. As of 30 October 2026, no men's international has been played here since the T20 World Cup final on 8 March 2026.
| Date | Match | First innings | Second innings | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Apr 2026 | GT v RCB | RCB 155 (19.2 ov) | GT 158/6 (15.5 ov) | GT won by 4 wickets |
| 3 May 2026 | GT v Punjab Kings | PBKS 163/9 | GT 167/6 (19.5 ov) | GT won by 4 wickets |
| 12 May 2026 | GT v SRH | GT 168/5 | SRH 86 (14.5 ov) | GT won by 82 runs |
| 21 May 2026 | GT v CSK | GT 229/4 | CSK 140 (13.4 ov) | GT won by 89 runs |
| 31 May 2026 | Final: GT v RCB | GT 155/8 | RCB 161/5 (18 ov) | RCB won by 5 wickets |
Four of the five first-innings totals sat between 155 and 168; only GT's 229/4 passed 200. Chasers won three, including RCB in the final, where Virat Kohli finished unbeaten on 75. Together, these games suggest par was in the mid-160s to mid-170s rather than 220, a change from the run-heavy 2025 season here.
Narendra Modi Stadium T20 records: highest scores, averages and India's record
Highest T20 scores
India's 255/5 in the 2026 T20 World Cup final is the Narendra Modi Stadium's highest T20 score in any men's competition. The top five, as of 30 October 2026:
| Total | Match | Competition | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 255/5 | India v New Zealand (final) | T20 World Cup | 8 Mar 2026 |
| 243/5 | Punjab Kings v Gujarat Titans | IPL | 25 Mar 2025 |
| 235/2 | Lucknow Super Giants v Gujarat Titans | IPL | 22 May 2025 |
| 234/4 | India v New Zealand | T20I series | 1 Feb 2023 |
| 233/3 | Gujarat Titans v Mumbai Indians (Qualifier 2) | IPL | 26 May 2023 |
Average T20 score
By our count of ESPNcricinfo's Statsguru scorecards, the average first-innings total across all 53 IPL games here (2010 to the end of IPL 2026) is about 180. It has been higher recently: about 192 in the 34 games since 2023, ranging from 173 in 2024 to 216 in 2025. The 15 men's T20Is played here (2012 to March 2026) average about 193 in the first innings.
India's record and win percentage
As of 30 October 2026, including matches at the old Motera stadium on the same site:
| Format | Played | Won | Lost | Other | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 16 | 7 | 2 | 7 drawn | 44% |
| ODIs | 21 with a result | 12 | 9 | 1 cancelled | 57% |
| T20Is | 11 | 8 | 3 | – | 73% |
Since the rebuilt stadium opened in 2020, India have won 15 of 20 men's internationals here, losing the 2023 ODI World Cup final and three T20Is.
Bat first or chase? The toss in Ahmedabad
To the end of IPL 2026, batting first and chasing had each won 26 of the 53 IPL games here, with one tie, and IPL 2026 split exactly four apiece. Captains have mostly chosen to bowl first in recent IPL games here, including RCB in the 2026 final.
Two finals played here show why the toss is no guarantee. Australia won the toss and bowled first in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, and won. New Zealand did the same in the 2026 T20 World Cup final and lost by 96 runs. For more on what the toss is worth, read our guide on whether winning the toss matters.
Conditions: heat, dry air and evening games
Ahmedabad has a hot semi-arid climate. Summer runs from around mid-March to mid-June, and average daytime highs in April and May are around 40°C or more. The monsoon does not arrive until about mid-June, so the IPL season here is usually dry.
What that means for a match:
- Rain is less of a factor than in Kolkata or Bengaluru, though not ruled out. The 2023 IPL final here was rain-affected and decided by the DLS method.
- Dry surfaces can change. A pitch that is good for batting at the start can slow up or grip later, which is worth remembering when a chase looks easy.
Dew tends to arrive later in evening games, when it makes the ball harder for spinners to grip. It varies from night to night, so check conditions on the day rather than assuming it will help the chase.
A four-step routine with CricGuru
- Get the baseline. Open an upcoming fixture from CricGuru's live and upcoming matches, sign in and request the AI prediction (new accounts include a small number of free trial predictions; paid plans then add a daily allowance). The number reflects each side's recent form, their head-to-head results, the points per game they have taken in the table and a small home edge, and an AI-written preview comes with it.
- Add the strip. The pitch, how this particular ground plays, the weather, the toss and dew are not model inputs, so use this Ahmedabad pitch report for them. Find out whether a red-soil, black-soil or mixed pitch is expected.
- Check the recent trend. If the last few games here have been low-scoring, a batting-heavy side may not get the run-fest it wants.
- Wait for the toss. Your read of a close prediction can tilt either way once you know who is batting first and how the pitch looks.
For fixtures across tournaments, see the CricGuru series page.
FAQ
Is the Narendra Modi Stadium pitch better for batting or bowling?
It depends on the strip. Red-soil and mixed-soil pitches are generally good for batting, and the venue's IPL record is 243/5. But in the last five IPL games, to 31 May 2026, four of the five first-innings totals were between 155 and 168, and teams were bowled out for 86 and 100 here during IPL 2026.
Spin or pace: what works better in Ahmedabad?
In T20s, both have had success, and the large field helps bowlers of either type. In Tests it depends on the strip: spin won in 2021, while the 2023 Test against Australia was a run-heavy draw.
What happened in the last 5 matches at the Narendra Modi Stadium?
As of the end of IPL 2026 (31 May 2026), the five most recent IPL games here produced first-innings totals between 155 and 229. Chasing sides won three, and RCB won the final by five wickets after restricting Gujarat Titans to 155/8.
What is the highest score in T20 at the Narendra Modi Stadium?
India's 255/5 against New Zealand in the 2026 T20 World Cup final. The highest IPL total is Punjab Kings' 243/5 against Gujarat Titans in March 2025; Sunrisers Hyderabad's 86 in May 2026 is the lowest IPL total.
Should captains bat or bowl first in Ahmedabad?
Recent captains have mostly bowled first, but the results do not support a fixed rule: batting first and chasing have each won 26 IPL games here.
Three things to check before an Ahmedabad match
Which soil the strip is made of, how the last few games have scored, and how hot the evening will be. If you want a contrast, the Eden Gardens pitch report covers a smaller ground where chasing has the better long-term record, and the all-venues pitch guide has the rest of the IPL circuit.