NEW DELHI: India captain
Rohit Sharma
expressed his bewilderment over the unpredictable pitch at Nassau County ground on Saturday, admitting uncertainty about what to anticipate in the upcoming
T20 World Cup
clash against Pakistan. Rohit highlighted that even the curator appears unsure about the behavior of the drop-in wickets being employed at the venue.
Matches in New York have witnessed low scores, exemplified by India's first match against Ireland where the opposition was dismissed for a sub-100 total.
The ICC was compelled to release a statement acknowledging the inconsistent nature of the pitches.
"New York is not our home ground. We have played two matches here but we don't have much awareness about its nature. It behaves differently on different days, so even the curator is confused," Rohit said on the eve of the game against Pakistan.
T20 World Cup 2024: Points Table | Schedule
"So, you can imagine the kind of thinking we need to put in. We don't know on which pitch we are playing (against Pakistan), so, whoever plays better cricket will win the match," he added.
Rohit added that the sluggishness of the outfield has exacerbated the concerns.
"The outfield is slow. Some shots get lot of bounce on the field, and some others do not roll on the field. So running between the wickets is important. We need to play as per conditions," he explained.
Nevertheless, the captain emphasized that such external factors can be overcome by playing excellent cricket, noting that his teammates often excel in challenging circumstances. India will also carry more confidence into the match, given Pakistan's recent shocking loss to tournament debutants USA in their opening game.
"Playing good cricket holds the key, not opposition, not pitch. Yes, it's tough but that's why I would like to highlight the experience we have. The blows count for nothing," said Rohit, referring to the hits he and
Rishabh Pant
took in their tournament-opener against Ireland due to the uneven bounce.
India will face the challenge of Pakistan's formidable fast bowlers like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf on Sunday. Rohit found reassurance in the team's prior experience of playing in pace-friendly conditions such as Australia and South Africa.
"When we play in places like South Africa, and Australia, we have to overcome the challenges. Gabba Test is one big example. We thrive in these difficult moments.
"It's the World Cup so nothing can get bigger than this. The blows can be secondary and putting the team's cause comes first," said Rohit.
The Mumbaikar hinted that Rishabh Pant will continue to bat at No. 3 as he did against Ireland.
"I had to look at Rishabh in the few games in IPL to make up my mind on where he will bat in the World Cup," he said.
India have historically held an advantage over Pakistan in World Cups, but Rohit Sharma emphasized that they won't rely solely on past records. He also stressed that there is no extra pressure when playing against their arch-rivals.
"Nothing changes. We have played them seven months back in the Asia Cup and (ODI) World Cup. But T20 is unpredictable. That's what T20 cricket is all about.
"Last World Cup, Pakistan lost to Zimbabwe but ended up playing the final. On your day anyone can beat anyone," he added.
(With PTI inputs)
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