India captain Rohit Sharma retired hurt after scoring a crucial half-century in their opening fixture of the T20 World Cup against Ireland in New York. Rohit Sharma, who contributed 52 off 37 balls, was struck on the upper arm by a delivery from Josh Little in the ninth over of the chase.
Despite the injury, he managed to hit the next two balls for six before walking off. India’s target was 97 runs in challenging batting conditions, which they achieved with an eight-wicket victory.
Rohit Sharma’s Post-Match Comments
https://gty.im/2156219694
Following the match, Rohit Sharma addressed his condition and the team’s performance during the post-match presentation.
“I am just a little sore,” Rohit Sharma stated. “At the toss, we were uncertain about the pitch. It’s a new ground with a drop-in pitch that’s only five months old. We opted to bowl first to get a feel of the conditions. The wicket didn’t settle down even when we batted second. There was enough assistance for the bowlers. Overall, I am happy to secure those two points, which were very important.”
Also read: Sensational Kedar Jadhav: A Farewell to Cricket and the Iconic Century Against England Along With Kohli
Challenges on a Difficult Pitch For India
https://gty.im/2156223969
The difficult batting conditions were evident as Rishabh Pant was also struck by Little in the 11th over, requiring attention from the physio but continuing to remain unbeaten with 36 off 26 balls. Former Zimbabwe batter and England head coach Andy Flower criticized the pitch, describing it as “bordering on dangerous” after Ireland was bowled out for 96. Flower highlighted the erratic bounce, which posed significant challenges for batters.
“I have got to say that is not a good surface to play an international match on. It’s bordering on dangerous,” Flower said on ESPNcricinfo‘s Timeout show. “The ball was bouncing unpredictably, sometimes skidding low and other times bouncing unusually high, striking batters on the thumb, gloves, and helmet. The Indian quicks exploited these conditions well, maintaining a simple game plan by hitting the deck hard on a good length.”
Also read: Legends of the T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli Winner of the Tournament Award
Pitch Preparation Concerns
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar also weighed in on the pitch issues, suggesting a possible problem in its preparation.
“Something has gone wrong with the preparation where either the pitch has been under-prepared or there is an issue beyond their control,” Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo’s Timeout show. “It seems like they’ve put in a lot of effort to get the surface right, but inherently, there is something wrong with the base of that pitch.”
The pitch issues were not isolated to this match. The game between Sri Lanka and South Africa on June 3, also in New York, saw similar challenges. Sri Lanka was bowled out for 77 in 19.1 overs, and South Africa struggled to a six-wicket win in 16.2 overs.
“Maybe it is a case of putting the cart before the horse,” Manjrekar commented. “There is excitement about having cricket in New York, but the most crucial aspect, the pitch and general conditions, are not living up to the hype, which is unfortunate.”
India’s win against Ireland, despite the difficult pitch, showcased their adaptability and strength, setting a positive tone for their T20 World Cup campaign.
Also read: Bold Entry: Virat Kohli Joins Team India in the USA for T20 World Cup 2024
About The Author
Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports offers. Follow us on X, @TotalApexSports, and read our content on two other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports
