Despite a 29-run victory over the United States of America in their opening match of the T20 World Cup 2026 at Wankhede Stadium on February 7, 2026, the Indian team management has reportedly expressed unhappiness with the pitch conditions to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The Wankhede pitch, known for being batting-friendly, offered assistance to both pacers and spinners, leading to a challenging outing for the Indian batters. India found themselves in trouble early on, slumping to 77/6 in the 13th over, before skipper Suryakumar Yadav stabilized the innings with an unbeaten 84, helping India reach a total of 161/9. In response, the USA was restricted to 132/8.
According to reports, the team management prefers pitches that produce high-scoring matches, allowing them to post daunting totals and leverage their strong bowling lineup. They aim to attack the opposition from the first ball, which becomes difficult on slower tracks. This preference for batting-friendly surfaces aligns with their aggressive approach under head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, who have set high batting standards since winning the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The Indian team's discontent highlights the ongoing debate around pitch conditions and their impact on matches. The team wants a flat deck where the ball comes easily onto the bat. During the 2023 ICC World Cup final, there were reports that India wanted a turning track against Australia. In the end they got trapped in their own tactics. Some suggest that the Indian team management should shift its focus from obsessing over pitches and concentrate on preparations, especially in a major ICC tournament. Former India cricketer Deep Dasgupta suggested that India should not get cautious if the pitches offer help for the bowlers and must not give up on the attacking game.
Concerns about pitches have surfaced previously, such as during the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE, the tour of Australia, and the home Test series against South Africa. The Eden Gardens pitch in Kolkata also faced criticism after India's unsuccessful chase against South Africa, despite the ICC rating it as "satisfactory".