NEW DELHI: India's batting coach, Vikram Rathore, praised all-rounder Hardik Pandya's impressive performance following India's victory over Ireland in their opener at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 on Wednesday.
Rathore commended Pandya's pace and accuracy, which were pivotal in the team's success.
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Pandya shone brightly in the first match of the mega event, taking three crucial wickets in his four-over spell, conceding only 27 runs and delivering one maiden over. Rathore emphasized Pandya's fitness and capability to bowl a full four-over spell, highlighting his effectiveness on the field.
"Hardik looked really good. Hardik has been--I mean, even in the practice game. He's been bowling really well. He looks fit enough to go through four overs and he's been bowling with some pace and some accuracy. So yeah, it's great," Rathore stated in the post-match press conference.
Rathore also praised wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who played a crucial role batting at number three. Pant remained unbeaten with a score of 36 from 26 balls, including three boundaries and two sixes, showcasing his prowess and importance to the team.
"He has been batting really well. In the two games he has played, he has looked really, really good. So yes, at the moment, he is our number three, and it helps that he is the left-hander," Rathore noted.
Discussing the toss factor, Rathore acknowledged its significance in the prevailing conditions, which favored India after they won the toss and chose to field first. However, he stressed the need for the team to adapt regardless of the toss outcome.
"I think the toss is crucial in conditions like these but fortunately, we won the toss today so it was a great start, but you can't again control that. So even if we lose the toss and we have to bat first, we still need to find ways to deal with the situation and the pitch," Rathore explained.
1/10:India rout Ireland in their T20 World Cup opener
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2/10:CAPTAIN'S KNOCK
<p>India captain Rohit Sharma allayed fears about an arm injury after making 52 before retiring hurt as his side thrashed Ireland by eight wickets in the teams' T20 World Cup opener in New York on Wednesday.<br /></p>AFP
3/10:DOMINANT DISPLAY
<p>India only required 97 to win after a dominant display by their bowling attack, with left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh striking twice in the third over to reduce Ireland to 9-2 after Rohit won the toss.<br /></p>AFP
4/10:SUPER PANDYA
<p><br />All-rounder Hardik Pandya took two wickets in two balls on his way to 3-27 and Jasprit Bumrah, the player of the match, 2-6.<br /></p>IANS
5/10:POOR SHOW
<p>Ireland, all out for just 96, needed to hold every chance to have any hope of a shock upset.<br /></p>AFP
6/10:ROHIT SURVIVES
<p>But Rohit had made just two when, off the last ball of the first over of India's chase, he edged Mark Adair through the hands of Andrew Balbirnie at second slip.<br /></p>AFP
7/10:VIRAT FALLS
<p>Adair dismissed Virat Kohli for just one, when the star batsman sliced to deep third man, but the damage had been done as India launched their bid to win a first major title since their 2013 Champions Trophy triumph with a commanding Group A victory.<br /></p>AFP
8/10:CAPTAIN ON DUTY
<p>Rohit punished Ireland with a 37-ball innings, including four fours and three well-struck sixes as he shared a stand of 54 with Rishabh Pant.<br /></p>IANS
9/10:COMEBACK MAN
<p>Rishabh Pant, returning to international cricket after a horror car crash in December 2022, finished on 36 not out and ended the match with a typically flamboyant reverse-scooped six off Barry McCarthy as India won with nearly eight overs left.<br /></p>AFP
10/10:BOOM-BOOM BUMRAH
<p>Jasprit Bumrah was adjudged Player of the Match for figures 2-6.<br /></p>AFPAddressing the challenges posed by the pitch at Nassau International Cricket Stadium, Rathore admitted it was tough for batting but expressed confidence in the team's ability to handle various surfaces.
"It is a challenging wicket as far as batting is concerned but this is what we have so we need to find ways to deal with it. Like I said earlier, we have enough skills and experience in the batting group to deal with that. We have enough good batters who can manage to bat well on any kind of surface," Rathore concluded.
India's next challenge will be against Pakistan, and the team will be looking to maintain their winning momentum as they navigate the complexities of the T20 World Cup.
(With inputs from ANI)
