Team India’s Bizarre Superstitions Before T20 World Cup Final to Avoid Bad Luck Make Headlines 

India boasts a dominant 72% win rate at the Narendra Modi Stadium, having secured eight victories from eleven T20I matches played at the venue.

Team India’s Bizarre Superstitions Before T20 World Cup Final to Avoid Bad Luck Make Headlines 

Team India and its players followed superstitions ahead of its 2026 T20 World Cup final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad. (via The News Indian Express)

In Short
  • India's cricket team is following superstitions ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup final against New Zealand to avoid bad luck.
  • The team switched hotels from ITC Narmada to Taj Skyline, distancing themselves from past defeats at Narendra Modi Stadium.
  • India delayed a training session due to a lunar eclipse, adhering to traditional beliefs about inauspicious timings.

Ahead of the highly-anticipated 2026 T20 World Cup final against New Zealand, the Indian team hopes to increase its probability of victory by following superstitions. The final being held at the Narendra Modi Stadium, a venue with a perceived ‘jinx’, is considered a factor driving these beliefs.

India’s route to the final was not an easy one, after the team navigated through the group stages to finish on top of Group A. The Men in Blue were then pre-seeded in a difficult Super Eight grouping, and the second round began with a disastrous 76-run defeat to South Africa.

Although they bounced back to beat Zimbabwe, a victory against the West Indies was essential to secure their spot in the knockout stage.

Sanju Samson emerged as the hero of India’s five-wicket win over the Windies in Kolkata. He delivered an impressive performance against England in a thrilling, high-scoring semi-final in Mumbai, which India won narrowly by seven runs. Despite the straightforward logistical move from Mumbai to Ahmedabad’s 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium for the final, supporters are worried that a perceived superstitious ‘jinx’ on the venue could jeopardize India’s chances.

Narendra Modi Stadium holds unfortunate memories for Indian fans, including the 2023 ODI World Cup final defeat to Australia. India’s sole 2026 T20 WC defeat also came at this venue, against the Proteas. To possibly avoid bad fortune, the Men in Blue have reportedly switched their hotel. India previously stayed at the ITC Narmada during the last two defeats, but switched to the Taj Skyline, possibly distancing the team from past ‘ghosts’ of playing in Ahmedabad. 

Throughout the World Cup, the Indian team made temple visits to Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple and Kolkata’s Kalighat Temple. On the eve of the match against England, a lunar eclipse occurred, prompting the Men in Blue to act in accordance with the traditional superstitious belief of avoiding any productive work during that time. The team delayed its pre-match training session by 45 minutes, waiting for the ‘inauspicious’ moment to pass. 

In addition to these actions, the Indian team also engaged in another superstitious practice before the semi-final: traveling in a Kolkata Knight Riders bus to the venue. Meanwhile, outside the Ahmedabad stadium, fans were also seen performing rituals to ward off bad omens.

From hotel switch to lunar eclipse delay: Team India’s superstitions before T20 WC final leaves fans stunned

All eyes will be on India when it takes on New Zealand in the final of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Not only will the Men in Blue be looking to break the ‘failure’ superstition associated with the Ahmedabad venue, but they will also be hoping to become the first team to defend the T20 WC title. 

Fans on India superstition
Fans were worried about Team India’s fate ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup final. (via Al Jazeera)

Several reports indicate that the Indian team deliberately stayed at a different hotel, hoping it would bring them ‘good luck’. Sources even claim that head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Suryakumar Yadav, and all-rounder Hardik Pandya sought blessings at a temple located inside the Motera Stadium complex. The team management might also be looking at a possible switch in dressing rooms on the day of the final.

Fans have been left stunned, with many suggesting that India’s plan of delaying practice prior to the England clash worked in its favor. A few others suggested that the Men in Blue should have instead opted for a venue change, playing in Mumbai or Kolkata. Some fans joked that the new hotel could alter the team’s ‘energy’, while others argued that success ultimately comes down to the better playing side, not luck.

Regarding the hotel switch, the official explanation clarifies that it is not due to superstition. The ICC had already allocated Ahmedabad’s ITC Narmada for the first team that would make it to the final, with the Blackcaps occupying the spot. 

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