The Indian cricket team holds a strong record at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, winning seven of their 10 T20I matches at the venue. However, the team management is leaving nothing to chance before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand on March 8.
Despite their success at the ground, memories of India’s heartbreaking defeat to Australia in the final of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup still remain fresh. India lost that match on November 19, 2023, at the same venue, a result that disappointed millions of fans.
Keeping that loss in mind, the team management has reportedly taken a few precautionary steps before the summit clash. According to a report by News18, the Indian team has changed both their hotel and dressing room arrangements for the final.
During the 2023 ODI World Cup final, the Indian team stayed at ITC Narmada in Ahmedabad. This time, the players have chosen to stay at a different hotel ahead of the T20 World Cup final. Reports suggest the decision reflects a sense of superstition within the camp.
The team has also shown caution in recent preparations. Earlier, the players delayed a practice session in Mumbai because of a lunar eclipse.
Veteran journalist Vimal Kumar revealed that the team will also use a different dressing room at the stadium.
“Nobody knows this. I am revealing this for the first time. Many people believe Ahmedabad is an unlucky ground for India. The team delayed practice during a lunar eclipse in Mumbai and they have been very spiritual. In Ahmedabad, the Indian team will not stay in the same hotel as the 2023 ODI World Cup final. They will also change their dressing room and use the visiting team’s dressing room. There is another change as well, but I cannot reveal it now. Maybe I will share it if India win the T20 World Cup,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council had already confirmed ITC Narmada as the official accommodation for the first finalist, which turned out to be New Zealand. As a result, the Indian team could not stay there, and their move to Taj Skyline happened due to hotel allocation rather than a deliberate decision.
