NEWS
Follow UsIndia started their 2024 T20 World Cup campaign with a comprehensive victory over Ireland in New York, but the Men in Blue suffered an injury scare in the second innings when skipper Rohit Sharma retired hurt mid-innings.
On the day, Rohit was batting like a dream, and brought up his 10th T20WC fifty, but retired hurt after the 10th over after being hit on his bicep by a snorter from Joshua Little.
But at the post-match presentation, the team India skipper confirmed that he retired hurt only as a precaution.
“Nothing much, just felt a little sore. Still feeling a bit sore,” Rohit said at the post-match presentation, when asked about his injury.
India’s clash against Ireland proved to be yet another low-scoring encounter as, batting first, Ireland got bowled out for a paltry 96. India struggled a bit in the chase, but, eventually, got home comfortably, getting home with nearly eight overs to spare.
Rohit said that the fresh and unknown New York wicket did not settle at any point.
“I said it at the toss as well. Quite unsure of what to expect from the pitch. Not aware of what it is to play like on a pitch that's five months old. I don't think the wicket settled down even when we batted second. There was enough for the bowlers,” the India skipper said.
The team India skipper said that his side focused on bowling Test match lines and lengths. And he admitted that, going forward, it will be unlikely that India will go spin-heavy on this New York surface where seamers have proven to be a handful. Against Ireland, India played three specialist seamers apart from Hardik Pandya, who himself completed his quota of four overs.
“That's pretty much what you gotta do [bowling Test match lines and lengths.]
“Try to hit those lengths consistently. All these guys have played a lot of Test cricket. Arshdeep is the only guy who hasn't. His two wickets upfront set the tone for us. Don't think we can play four spinners here (laughs).”
But the team India skipper said that the flexibility in the squad will allow for the side to field more than two spinners if and when the conditions permit.
“When we picked the team, we wanted to have balance. If conditions are there for seamers, we wanted to have that. Spin will play a part later on. Today was a four-seamer pitch and we still managed to get two spinners who are all-rounders.”
India’s next game, against arch-rivals Pakistan, is also at the same venue. Rohit said that the team will prepare expecting the wicket to behave like it did today against Ireland.
“I don't know what to expect from the pitch to be honest. We will prepare as if the conditions are going to be like this (for Pakistan game). This is going to be a kind of game where all XI of us will need to contribute.”
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