Maharaj Downplays Ahmedabad Edge Before West Indies Showdown

South African left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj has dismissed the perception that his team has an edge over other oppositions while playing in Ahmedabad. He said South Africa played on a different pitch in every match, which meant they encountered varying conditions in all the previous games of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

"From a pitch point of view, every game has been very different. In the four matches that we've played here, conditions have played very differently so I don't see it as too much of an advantage. It's just making sure that we adapt quicker rather than later compared to the opposition." said Keshav Maharaj while talking to the reporters.

Speaking about whether bowling first or second is more beneficial in Ahmedabad, Maharaj said that he does not have a clear idea yet, as he is still trying to understand the difference in how the red and black soil pitches react.

"I've tried to understand it as much as possible and I just try to adapt on the day and see what it's giving you. Generally they say red soil and black soil is very different in terms of reaction." said Keshav Maharaj.

Meanwhile, the middle order batter Tristan Stubbs thinks batting second is more beneficial, as it lets you know exactly what is required to win the match.

"When you bat second, the game's right there in front of you and it's telling you what to do. When you bat first, the guys out in the middle have to take it upon themselves to assess a good score. It's not often spoken about but as a batter you've got to feel what we need or what we don't need in batting first." said Tristan Stubbs.

On the other hand, the West Indies batting coach Floyd Reifer is not too worried about the venue. He is just looking forward to winning the next match by adapting according to the conditions.

"We're not worried too much about the venues, who played there or who didn't play there. For us, it's just coming out and understanding what needs to be done and executed." said Floyd Reifer.