Ricky Ponting exposes India for tactical pitch ‘backfire’

India’s controversial move at the Cricket World Cup blew up in the host country’s face in devastating fashion against Australia.

India’s controversial pitch manipulation has blown up in the team’s face.

Suggestions about the Indian team having loose control over the pitch prepared for Monday morning’s Cricket World Cup Final dominated the lead up to the match — and the chatter will continue after the host country’s defeat.

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Travis Head was the hero as Australia broke 1.4 billion hearts with a six-wicket win as the Aussies cruised to victory with 42 balls to spare in Ahmedabad.

India captain Rohit Sharma after the game admitted his team were “not good enough” — but was also quick to mention how some things didn’t go his team’s way.

Cummins won the crucial toss to start the game and made the brave call to send India in to bat and it proved a masterstroke as the pitch appeared to deteriorate in the batsman’s favour.

Aussie cricket icon Ricky Ponting said the pitch prepared “backfired on India”.

The pitch for the final was the same surface as the one on which India cruised to a seven-wicket pool win over Pakistan last month.

Pat Cummins reportedly raised concerns about the wicket the day before the match.

In the end, it was the strip of grass that boosted Australia’s run chase after India finished its innings with 240 runs to play with.

The Aussie skipper sheepishly spoke glowingly about the pitch after the game.

“It was a little slower than I thought,” he said.

It was a bad toss to lose. Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP.

Pat Cummins was on fire. Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP.

“It didn’t particularly spin as much as we thought either but I thought everyone adjusted well and bowled some tight lines.”

When asked about his decision to bat second, Cummins said: “We were tossing it up. We’ve been batting first for most of the tournament but we thought tonight was a good chase night because it felt it might a little bit easier and everyone was pretty keen to get out there.”

Indian captain Rohit Sharma did not want to give the pitch as an excuse for his team’s defeat.

“We knew under the lights it would be slightly better but I don’t want to give that as an excuse,” he said.

Ponting said it all in his commentary.

The Ahmedabad groundsman said all along that the final would be played on a used pitch. It was clearly part of the ‘plan.’ It has backfired spectacularly #CWC23Finalpic.twitter.com/DkH9tMdBe9

— simon hughes (@theanalyst) November 19, 2023

“It was very, very sub-continental conditions today,” the former Test captain said.

“A wicket preparation that has probably ended up backfiring on India to be totally fair.”

England Test great Michael Vaughan also said Australia tamed the conditions much easier than India.

“Strategically they are a very clever team,” Vaughan said in commentary of Australia.

“They’ve clearly got a very clever thinktank. I don’t think they are a 320 side, they are a 280 side and preparing a pitch like this gave Australia a chance.

“They did exactly what Pat Cummins said they would, they’ve silenced the crowd. They’ve done it in great fashion. I don’t know anyone who thought the game would be done in 43 overs with Australia coasting to the target.”

India captain Rohit Sharma shakes hands with Australia captain Pat Cummins after the match. Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images.

The smile of a man who knows he’s won an important toss. Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain said India’s tactics about trying to protect its lower order was another factor on why the pitch backfired on India.

“India are still a great side - but the pitch brought Australia into it,” Hussain said on Sky Sports.

“India’s four bowlers not being able to bat that well came back to haunt them. That’s why Rahul and Kohli couldn’t go hard.

“They were worried about Shami at No 8.”

The hosts came in as favourites in the title clash with an undefeated run of 10 victories but fell well short in Ahmedabad.

India, despite their vast riches, are without a global title since the 2013 Champions Trophy.

Rohit smashed a quickfire 47 before Australia hit back and bowled out the hosts for 240 despite fifties from Virat Kohli (54) and KL Rahul (66).

Travis Head smashed 137 to lead the Australia chase after the Aussies had been in trouble at 3/47.

Head and Marnus Labuschagne, who hit 58 not out, put on 192 for the fourth wicket to thwart the Indian bowling.

“Obviously a tough day in the office. Ran a really good campaign, really proud of the boys the way we played right through this tournament,” said Indian coach Rahul Dravid.

“We gave everything we had in this tournament. Just with the last step of the campaign we probably didn’t have a nice game. My congratulations to Australia, they played really well.”