India secured a commanding 8-wicket win over Ireland in their T20 World Cup 2024 opener at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York, on June 5. However, a more formidable challenge lies ahead as Rohit Sharma’s team prepares to face their long-time rivals, Pakistan, at the same venue on June 9.
The pitch at this venue has notably favoured bowlers, especially fast bowlers, providing significant bounce, which poses a challenge for India given Pakistan’s potent pace attack, featuring Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, who are eager to exploit these conditions.
Aware of the threat, Indian batters, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, have undergone specialized training to prepare for Pakistan’s formidable pacers. Recognizing the different nature of this challenge compared to their match against Ireland, the Indian coaching staff transformed three of the six practice pitches at Cantiague Park in Long Island into abrasive surfaces with cracks.
This adjustment aimed to simulate match conditions and prepare the top-order batters for the anticipated difficulties, according to a PTI report. India’s commitment to mastering tracks with variable bounce was clear, especially when contrasted with the South African team.
During a morning session on the same practice pitches, South African stars like Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje bowled with intensity, but their top batters opted to avoid injury risks ahead of their game against the Netherlands. In stark contrast, Indian players embraced the challenging conditions, using them to gear up for Pakistan’s bowling attack. This preparation was crucial as the venue had seen teams failing to reach 100 runs in four out of six innings.
Team India ready to take on Pakistan
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and others engaged in a rigorous three-hour training session, facing the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, and Mohammed Siraj. Kohli, along with Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav, was among the first to practice, confronting a mix of fast bowlers and throwdown specialists focusing on hard lengths.
The practice emphasized handling the uneven bounce, with batters employing cross-batted shots like sweeps and reverse sweeps against spinners. As the session concluded, Jadeja and Shivam Dube had their turns at the crease, with Kohli joining for a second stint.
The intense practice wrapped up with a team bonding activity, where the players relaxed and played football, fostering a lighter atmosphere ahead of their crucial encounter with Pakistan.
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