The Indian cricket team has changed its hotel in Ahmedabad ahead of the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to avoid bad luck that followed them during the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

According to Indian media reports, the decision was taken as the team prepares to face New Zealand in the final on March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. 

Reports said the team was avoiding the hotel where they stayed during the final back in 2023 as India lost that match to Australia. The report described the move as an attempt to move away from the memories of that defeat, however, officials have not yet issued an official statement in this regard.

Earlier, a report also claimed that the team delayed a training session in Mumbai by 45 minutes before the semi-final because of a lunar eclipse.

India also believes it lost to South Africa in the Super 8 stage of the tournament in Ahmedabad when the match took place on a black-soil pitch.

The venue offers different surfaces, including red-soil pitches, black-soil pitches, and mixed surfaces. Indian media suggested that the team may prefer a red-soil pitch for the final. 

The semi-final in Mumbai was also played on a red-soil surface and delivered a strong batting performance.

Reports also suggested that the team could on Sunday use the visiting team’s dressing room instead of the home dressing room in Ahmedabad so as to change the environment before the final.