The alleged motive behind this switch was to create conditions favouring India's renowned spinners.
However, the selected pitch didn't quite align with the speculated intentions. Indian spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav faced challenges on the pitch during the semi-final encounter as New Zealand's aggressive batting display posed significant hurdles.
Despite their struggles, India managed to secure a commanding 70-run victory, securing a spot in the World Cup final for the fourth time.
Responding to the allegations and criticisms regarding the pitch alteration, Gavaskar expressed his frustration, urging detractors to cease targeting India. "All those morons who have been saying about pitch change, I hope they just shut up, stop taking potshots at India. Stop talking about pitch change. It was for both teams," Gavaskar emphatically stated during a post-match interview with broadcasters.
The report also hinted at a pitch change for the final venue in Ahmedabad
Moreover, the report hinted at potential pitch conditions for the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad.
Gavaskar denounced premature judgments about the pitch, emphasizing that discussions about Ahmedabad's pitch were premature, especially considering the second semi-final had not yet taken place.
The pitch selected for the semi-final (No. 6) had previously been used for other matches in the tournament, including games between England-South Africa and India-Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) clarified the situation, highlighting that pitch changes are common in extensive tournaments like the World Cup. The ICC assured that their independent pitch consultant had been informed of the alteration and expressed confidence in the pitch's playing conditions.
Despite the controversy surrounding the pitch switch, the focus now shifts to the highly anticipated final as India prepares to face off against their opponent, eager to claim cricket's most coveted trophy.
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