The much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash at the T20 World Cup in New York is shrouded in yet another controversy: the unpredictable drop-in pitch. While the ICC promised improvements for this high-profile match, concerns remain after a low-scoring South Africa-Netherlands encounter on the same surface.
Netherlands’ struggle, Pakistan’s worries
With Netherlands mustering a meagre 103 runs and South Africa completing the run chase in 18.5 overs with just 4 wickets in hand, the pitch’s behaviour raises concerns for Pakistan, who only had one practice session in New York.
Rohit Sharma’s cheeky remark
During a press conference, a Pakistani journalist questioned India’s potential advantage due to their familiarity with the pitch. India captain Rohit Sharma offered a witty response, acknowledging that even India hasn’t had ideal preparation due to rain interruptions in training sessions.
“This is not our home either, yes we have played a couple of games here, but a few of our training sessions have been washed out too…and about the pitch, well even the curator doesn’t know how the pitch will behave,” Rohit said, while addressing the reporters in New York.
Emphasizing the unfamiliarity of Asian teams with drop-in pitches, Rohit mentioned that the Australian curator is still experimenting with grass removal. He maintained that both teams will have equal opportunities, and the better team will emerge victorious.
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Rohit also dismissed concerns about Pakistan’s opening game loss against the USA. He emphasized the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, citing Pakistan’s journey to the T20 World Cup final in 2021 after losing to Zimbabwe in the group stage.
“This is a format where anything can happen anywhere. In the last T20 World Cup, they lost to Zimbabwe and then went on to play the final. Here, you cannot think much about the opposition, because form doesn’t take too long to come and go,” the Indian skipper added.
Will the pitch hold up?
With the pitch remaining a source of worry, all eyes are on the India-Pakistan clash. Whether the match will be a high-scoring spectacle or a low-scoring battle remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the contest promises a thrilling display of cricketing prowess, regardless of the pitch’s behaviour.
