After losing to Australia in the final of the ODI World Cup 2023, the Indian cricket team is eager for a comeback in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Led by Rohit Sharma, the team is preparing in the USA, one of the event’s hosts. This World Cup is a significant opportunity for India to break their ICC trophy drought, which has persisted since the 2013 Champions Trophy win under MS Dhoni.
Concerns Over Practice Facilities
A report from News18 revealed that the Indian team is dissatisfied with the practice facilities in the USA. According to sources, everything from the pitches to other amenities is makeshift and average. Head coach Rahul Dravid has expressed his disappointment with the facilities at Cantiague Park, where the team is training. The report mentioned that the team has communicated these concerns to the ICC. However, the ICC responded, stating no complaints have been received from any team regarding the facilities.
Adapting to New Conditions
The Indian cricket team has started training with morning sessions to adapt to the 10:30 am starts for their preliminary games. After playing most of their matches under lights in the hot Indian summer, the team now needs to adjust to the milder mornings in the USA, where temperatures range between 25 to 27 degrees Celsius with low humidity. This adjustment is crucial as the players need to get used to playing with a white kookaburra ball in slightly windy conditions.
Kohli’s Absence and Upcoming Challenges
Virat Kohli is currently absent from the training sessions due to personal reasons but is expected to rejoin the team soon. His participation in the warm-up game against Bangladesh remains uncertain due to his long flight. The support staff is focusing on helping the players acclimatize to the new conditions before starting intensive skills training on the practice pitches.
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