India captain Rohit Sharma spoke about the conditions at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York ahead of the match against Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup. He admitted that the pitches in New York were tough but he was ready for the challenge.
India will face arch-rivals Pakistan in the second match of the 2024 T20 World Cup. The match between the two teams will be played on Sunday (9 June) at the newly built Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
One of the key talking points of the match between India and Pakistan will be the pitch at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. The surface in New York is a batsman’s nightmare and a fast bowler’s paradise. This was evident in the matches on the pitch.
There were instances where the bounce was uneven, putting the surface under the scanner and injuring players. Uneven bounce is one of the major concerns for batsmen and the slow outfield and long boundaries make the situation even worse.
The ICC also issued an official statement regarding the stadium, saying, “The groundsmen are working hard and will do their best to improve the situation.” Considering the pace of Pakistan’s lethal attacks, it will also pose a huge challenge for India.
However, Rohit Sharma is aware of these challenges but wants to leverage the experience his team has. He pointed out that difficulties must be overcome, citing India’s Gabba Test victory as an example. He said this in an interview with reporters.
“It was difficult, but that’s why I want to highlight the experience we have had. Batting doesn’t mean anything. When you play places like SA and AUS, you have to overcome the difficulties. The Gabba Test is one big example. We thrive. “In these difficult moments, there is nothing bigger than this: the bathroom.”
Someone has to be free to play at the top – Rohit Sharma ahead of the match against Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup
India skipper Rohit Sharma also emphasized the importance of playing freely at the top. He said one of the top three would have to find the right balance between aggression and caution in the match against their arch-rivals in New York. He also said that it does not matter whether the stadium plays more games than Pakistan as even the curators do not know what the stadium will offer. He added:
“Someone has to be free to play at the top. Status matters, and New York must keep that in mind. You shouldn’t be too aggressive or too cautious. I want to take a balanced approach.
“We don’t know what kind of wicket we are playing on. It doesn’t matter that we have been in New York longer than in Pakistan. Even the curators are confused about the pitch so you can imagine our situation,” he concluded. .
