this one flips the script from six-fests to survival mode 🛡️🧠
If you're asking which UAE stadium consistently made batters work for every run, the answer is:
🏟️ Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi = Lowest Average Scores 🥶
📉 Why Abu Dhabi Had Lower Average Scores:
| Factor |
Impact |
| 🧱 Bigger boundaries |
Sixes harder to come by — especially square of the wicket |
| 🌫️ Early morning/evening movement |
Seamers got help, especially under lights |
| 🛝 Slow pitch behavior |
Lower bounce, variable pace made strokeplay tough |
| 🧪 Used surfaces |
Especially in IPL 2020 & 2021 double-headers — became sluggish late in season |
| 🎯 Good for bowling attacks |
Teams with disciplined pace/spin combos thrived (DC, MI) |
🧾 Stat Snapshot – IPL in UAE:
📊 IPL 2020 (as a baseline):
| Venue |
Avg 1st Innings Score |
Notable Low Scoring Games |
| Abu Dhabi |
🧊 ~145-150 |
RCB 120 vs DC, SRH 114 vs MI |
| Dubai |
⚖️ ~160-165 |
More consistent wickets and bounce |
| Sharjah |
🔥 ~180-200 (early), then ~150 (late) |
Huge drop once pitches wore out |
🔍 Abu Dhabi Pitch Personality:
-
First 4-5 games: Decent batting wicket
-
Mid-tournament: Started slowing down
-
End phase: Became two-paced, ball gripped and stopped
-
Teams often won with scores below 150
🧠 Example:
🧠 TL;DR:
Abu Dhabi = The tactician’s venue.
Not built for mindless hitting.
You needed timing, touch, and a bowling plan.
Power alone wouldn’t save you here.
Want a “Best Bowling Performances in Abu Dhabi”? Or “Teams that cracked the Abu Dhabi code”? Let’s go deeper into desert cricket tactics 🌵🧠