India decisively defeated Ireland by 8 wickets commencing their ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 campaign with a bang. In the match played at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Wednesday, India was set a target of 97 runs, which they successfully chased down within 12.2 overs.
The Indian team is now geared up to face arch-rival Pakistan on June 9th. The 'drop-in' pitch in New York has been the topic of intense discussion, stirring comments from Rohit Sharma to various cricketing legends – particularly since India will play against Pakistan on the same surface.
Erratic Bounce Sends Shivers Down Batsmen's Spine!
The pitch became a focus during the India-Ireland match. Suited more for quick bowlers, it rendered batting quite difficult during the early overs. Indian pacers, including Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah, experienced erratic bounce. Some deliveries bounced so unexpectedly that even wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant had trouble collecting them. While certain balls struck the Irish batsmen's gloves, others skidded through unexpectedly low.
A particularly lively ball from Jasprit Bumrah struck Harry Tector's gloves before bouncing off his helmet to a fielder at cover. The Indian batters faced similar challenges, with captain Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant taking hits. Sharma eventually retired hurt after securing a half-century due to a blow to his arm.
Irfan Pathan Raises Questions About Drop-In Pitches
Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan questioned the pitch at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium during commentary. Pathan remarked on the time drop-in pitches take to settle. All matches of the T20 World Cup at this venue will leverage drop-in pitches, which were brought from Florida – nearly 2000 kilometers away. With such insights, Pathan's observations hold significant weight.
These pitches are manufactured under the guidance of Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions, led by Damien Hough, head curator at Adelaide Oval. His team is stationed in New York throughout the World Cup to assist in pitch maintenance.
Source: aajtak
Rohit Unhappy with 'Drop-In' Pitch
Indian captain Rohit Sharma displayed displeasure with the Nassau County Stadium's 'drop-in' pitch, which offered an uneven bounce, ahead of a critical T20 World Cup match against Pakistan on June 9th. He commented on the novelty of the ground, expressing that while they were keen to experience playing here, the pitch heavily favored bowlers, making a basic, test match bowling approach necessary.
Discussing match preparations, Sharma stated, 'We don't know what to expect from the pitch, but we'll prepare with the assumption that it'll play the same. It's crucial for the whole team to perform well in the upcoming match. Hopefully, we'll deliver a strong performance like today.'
What Will Happen in the India-Pakistan Match?
The thrilling encounter between India and Pakistan is set for June 9th at the same stadium in New York. With India boasting a formidable contingent of star pacers and Pakistan fielding a lineup of fearsome fast bowlers including Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, the Indian batters need to remain vigilant.
The culture of drop-in pitches is most prevalent in Australia. Initially used to facilitate other events at cricket grounds, these venues have also hosted music concerts, rugby, and football matches. When Kerry Packer started World Series Cricket in the 1970s, drop-in pitches became part of the innovation. During the football season in Australian winters, these grounds use drop-in pitches for the cricket season.
