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 T20 World Cup 2024. He admitted that the pitches in New York are difficult but are ready for the challenge.
India will take on arch-rival Pakistan in their second match of the T20 World Cup 2024. The match between the two teams will take place on Sunday (June 9) at the newly constructed Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
One of the main talking points ahead of the match between India and Pakistan is the pitch at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. The New York surface is a nightmare for batsmen and a paradise for fast bowlers, which has been evident in games at the venue.
The surface is under scanner due to uneven bounce and even injured players have been seen. The uneven bounce there is a major concern for batsmen and makes things even worse for them as the outfield is slow and the boundaries are long.
Even ICC issued an official statement related to the pitch, saying that the groundskeepers are working hard and will do everything possible to improve the conditions. It will also be a big challenge for India, considering the lethal pace of Pakistan’s attack.
Rohit Sharma, however, is aware of that challenge but is keen to take advantage of the experience his team has. He pointed out that they need to overcome the challenges, citing the example of India’s Test victory at the Gabba. Speaking to reporters, he stated:
“It’s tough, but that’s why I would like to highlight the experience we have. Hits don’t count for anything. When you play in places like SA and AUS, you have to overcome the challenges. The Gabba test is a great example. We are thriving at the moment difficult. It’s the WC, so nothing can be bigger than this.”
Someone has to play freely at the top: Rohit Sharma ahead of match against Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2024
India captain Rohit Sharma also highlighted the importance of playing freely at the top. He stated that a top three needs to find the right balance between being aggressive and cautious in the game against their arch-rivals in New York. He also claimed that playing more matches than Pakistan at the venue does not matter because not even the curator knows what the ground will offer. He added.
“Someone has to play freely at the top. Condition does matter and in New York it must be taken into account. Don’t be too aggressive or too cautious. I would like to have a balanced approach.
“We don’t know what kind of pitch we are playing on. It doesn’t matter that we have been in New York for more days than in Pakistan. Even the curator was confused about the pitches, as you can imagine our situation,” he concluded.