The India cricket team is moving to the Super 8 with a 3-0 record. The Men in Blue are going to the next stage of the T20 World Cup with well-earned victories over arch-rivals Pakistan and home team, the USA. They were tested on a tough Nassau pitch, and if you were to ask skipper Rohit Sharma, that would be the perfect preparation. That was the case until the India vs Canada match was washed off. But not getting any to play their final group stage match has left Rohit Sharma and co. in a spot of bother.
Lack of practice
India will face an opposition they haven’t gone against and play on a ground (Kensington Oval) where they haven’t yet stepped foot in. As if that wasn’t difficult enough, they’ll also be facing Afghanistan with no game time since June 12, when they beat the USA.
It’s not just game time they missed out on, but also practice. Since winning their third match, the Indian cricket team hasn’t even practiced once. They came to Florida on June 14 and haven’t been able to practice on the field since. With rain ruining any chance of going to the ground, they instead went to the gym.
No exposure
They have played matches at just one venue, the Nassau Cricket Stadium in New York. The chance to play in Florida was washed off due to the ICC’s shoddy drainage facilities in Lauderhill, but it would be India who would have to suffer. All they have played on are pace-friendly surfaces, where their best spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, hasn’t gotten a chance to play.
Due to the India vs Canada match getting abandoned, Rohit Sharma wasn’t able to figure out who would be his best pacer alongside Jasprit Bumrah. Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh have both done well, but he would have hoped to give both one more try and finally decide who’ll start against Afghanistan on June 20.
India might have also wanted to test Yashasvi Jaiswal or give more batting and bowling time to Ravindra Jadeja, who hasn’t been at his best since the T20 World Cup started. But, for now, all Men in Blue will get is rest.
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