Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Yuzvendra Chahal during the T20 World Cup India – Bangladesh 2024 warm-up match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, Saturday, June 1, 2024. India won by 60 runs. | Photo Credit: PTI
Team India has not “presented” its batting line-up for the T20 World Cup and much should not be read into the think tank’s decision to send Rishabh Pant at number three in the warm-up match against Bangladesh, says captain Rohit Sharma. .
India ran out winners by 60 runs at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, restricting Bangladesh to 122 for nine after posting 182 for five in the allotted 20 overs on June 1.
On Pant batting at No.3, Rohit said, “Just to give people a chance. We haven’t really nailed down what the batting unit will look like. Even the bowlers are doing quite well. All in all happy with how it is.”
Pant scored a smooth 53 off 32 balls, while Hardik Pandya scored 40 off 23 deliveries after Suryakumar Yadav scored an 18-ball 31.
“Just happy with how it went. Just get what you want from the game. Like I said when I threw, it’s important to get used to the situation.
“New place, new ground, pitch-in pitch – it’s important to get used to it and we managed it well,” Rohit said after the match.
Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh shone with the ball, taking 2/12 in three overs while all-rounder Shivam Dube grabbed 2/13 in three overs.
Asked about Arshdeep, Rohit said, “He has shown us, in whatever game he plays, he has skills up front. He has got a very good skill-set (at the death).”
“We saw today. He played well, swinging the ball in front, then beat one behind. We have 15 good players here. We have to see what the situation is and then see what combination is best for us. .”
A little spongy at times: Dravid
Head coach Rahul Dravid said the pitch was a bit soft and spongy, while praising the performance of the players.
“It’s good to get a good hit-out. Obviously, it looks like a good facility in terms of the speed that has been put up. The ground is a bit soft and men can feel that in the hamstring and calves.
“So, that’s an area where we have to work and make sure that the guys in charge feel a little heavy,” Dravid said in a video posted by the BCCI.
India ticked a number of boxes in their comfortable win over Bangladesh in the warm-up match, but none more audacious than the fifty by Pant that has cemented his position as the first-choice wicketkeeper batsman in the ICC exhibition.
Dravid added, “It was a bit spongy (the pitch) at times, but I think we handled it well. The batsmen have given top scores on that wicket and the bowlers have come out and bowled well.
“Overall, we’ve been able to get going and get a game here which is really good. Hopefully, we can prepare well for the next few days and be ready.”
Arshdeep, who used the field well, said the team adapted well to the conditions despite some challenges.
“It feels good, it’s important how you start. We got early wickets and didn’t give up. Wickets helped us too, so we tried to keep it simple and get results.
“The ground is sand-based, so you have to get the rhythm right. It will be a challenge to adapt to the conditions here.
“We adapted very well because the training session was also in the morning and everyone came and did 100% there, which can also be seen on the field, the way we play as a team, and it’s a really good result,” said Arshdeep.
Dube, who has made a name for himself with the ability to hit big sixes in addition to bowling medium pacers, added, “It’s fun playing here, and it’s good to have a win in our first warm-up game. Obviously, it’s. well-built.” But there are challenges for players.
“The warm-up match is important for us to be ready for the T20 World Cup. So it is important to learn about batting, bowling and fielding and hence, we got a good idea after playing today and it was a different experience,” said Dube.
