The pitches in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai during IPL seasons held in the UAE—particularly in 2020 and 2021—offered distinct playing conditions that impacted team strategies, scoring rates, and player performances. Here's a detailed comparison:
🏟️ Sharjah Cricket Stadium
🔥 Key Traits:
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Smallest ground of the three—very short boundaries.
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Initially flat, batting-friendly pitches with plenty of runs.
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As the tournament progressed, the pitch slowed down, bringing spinners into play.
📈 Impact:
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High-scoring thrillers early on (e.g., 220+ scores).
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Big-hitters like Nicholas Pooran, Rahul Tewatia, and AB de Villiers thrived here.
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Death bowling was tough; even good deliveries often went for boundaries.
Early IPL 2020 saw 200+ targets chased or defended in Sharjah.
🏟️ Dubai International Stadium
⚖️ Key Traits:
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Balanced pitch—offered something for everyone.
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Helped fast bowlers under lights (especially with the new ball).
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Longer boundaries than Sharjah; mis-hits often got caught.
📉 Impact:
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Scores around 160–180 were par.
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Teams chasing under dew had a better chance.
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Strategic bowling rotations played a big role here.
Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals performed well in Dubai by adapting to changing conditions.
🏟️ Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
🌬️ Key Traits:
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Typically the most bowler-friendly of the three.
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Bigger ground, often saw slower outfields and two-paced pitches.
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Helped spinners and hit-the-deck pacers.
🧠 Impact:
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Teams often started cautiously and targeted death overs.
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Scores of 140–160 were often competitive.
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Bowlers like Rashid Khan and Anrich Nortje had success here.
SRH’s bowling unit used Abu Dhabi conditions masterfully in 2020.
💡 Summary Table:
| Stadium |
Avg Score (First Innings) |
Key Traits |
Best Suited For |
| Sharjah |
190+ (early), 150 (late) |
Flat early, slow later, short |
Power hitters |
| Dubai |
160–180 |
Balanced, helps pacers at night |
All-round units |
| Abu Dhabi |
140–160 |
Slow, two-paced, larger outfield |
Quality bowling attacks |
Want a list of the most dramatic matches at each venue or the best player performances by stadium?