Key takeaways
- Batting first and chasing have won almost equally — 26 and 25 of 51 IPL matches.
- First innings average 178, among the highest of any IPL ground.
- Hit-the-deck seamers and spinners both get help; big boundaries reward batters who run hard.
- Ahmedabad hosted the IPL 2026 final, where RCB beat Gujarat Titans.
Narendra Modi Stadium at a glance
| City | Ahmedabad, Gujarat |
|---|---|
| IPL home team | Gujarat Titans |
| IPL matches (to the 2026 final) | 51 |
| Won batting first / chasing | 26 / 25 |
| Average first-innings score | 178 |
| Highest total | 243/5 — Punjab Kings |
| Highest successful chase | 204/3 — Gujarat Titans |
| Lowest total | 89 — Gujarat Titans |
Is the Narendra Modi Stadium pitch good for batting or bowling?
Batting-friendly, with something for bowlers. The first-innings average of 178 is among the highest of any IPL ground, and batting first and chasing have won almost equally. Hit-the-deck seamers and spinners both get help, and the big boundaries reward batters who run hard.
What the pitch is like
The Narendra Modi Stadium usually offers a balanced contest. The boundaries are relatively large, but a fast outfield means batters still score freely once they are set.
Pitches can vary from game to game, but in general:
- Hit-the-deck seamers get lateral movement off the surface and some in the air.
- Spinners tend to get significant grip and turn.
- Batters who place the ball and run hard do well; pure hitting is less reliable on the bigger boundaries.
The numbers
All-time IPL figures at the venue (51 matches, before the 2026 final):
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average first-innings score | 178 |
| Wins batting first / chasing | 26 / 25 |
| Wins by toss winners / losers | 23 / 28 |
| Highest total | 243/5 — Punjab Kings |
| Highest successful chase | 204/3 — Gujarat Titans |
| Lowest total | 89 — Gujarat Titans |
2026 playoffs. In Qualifier 1, RCB made 254/5 and bowled Gujarat out for 162. In the final, RCB beat Gujarat again, chasing 156 with five wickets to spare, for their second title in a row.
Toss and chasing
This is one of the few IPL grounds where the toss makes little difference: batting first and chasing have won almost equally, and toss winners have actually won fewer matches than toss losers.
For your team: build around form and matchups rather than the toss, and read the pitch report on the day.
Pace or spin?
Both — which is why balanced attacks do well here:
- Hit-the-deck seamers who bowl a hard length are effective throughout the innings.
- Spinners get grip and turn; a wrist-spinner who takes wickets is a core pick.
- Death bowlers benefit from the bigger boundaries, which turn some sixes into catches.
Building a fantasy team for Ahmedabad
- Top-order batters who bat long — players who anchor an innings tend to score well on the big ground.
- A balanced attack: at least one seamer and one spinner from each side.
- All-rounders are strong picks on a pitch that helps both bat and ball.
- Captain: a top-order batter who bats deep into the innings, or a wicket-taking spinner.
- In mega contests, a spinner from either side can be a less popular captain with a real role.
For a full routine, see pitch and conditions and captain and vice-captain.
GT at home
Gujarat Titans' squad — top-order batters who bat long, plus seamers and wrist-spin — is built for this ground. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan lead the batting; Rashid Khan leads the spin.
GT's squad, core picks and recent form are in the GT fantasy guide.
Pre-match checklist
- Read the pitch report — a drier surface means more turn for the spinners.
- Pick a balanced team rather than overloading on batters.
- Favour batters who bat long over pure hitters.
- Confirm your spinners are in the playing eleven.
Sources
- CricTracker, GT vs RCB final: IPL 2026 records and stats at Narendra Modi Stadium, May 2026 — venue figures, pitch notes and playoff results.
- Wikipedia, 2026 Royal Challengers Bengaluru season — final result.