NEW DELHI: India captain Rohit Sharma is expected to recover from a bruised bicep in time for the highly anticipated T20 World Cup match against Pakistan on Sunday. However, concerns over the pitch conditions at Nassau County have overshadowed preparations for the marquee clash.
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Rohit Sharma was struck on his right bicep by a delivery from Ireland's Josh Little during India's opening match of the tournament. The delivery, which unexpectedly rose from a length, forced Rohit to retire hurt after scoring a half-century. Although the injury is not considered serious, with Rohit expected to participate in the next two practice sessions, the state of the pitch has raised significant safety concerns.
A senior BCCI source provided an update on Rohit’s condition, stating, "Rohit's injury isn't serious. He himself said that it's a bit sore. He should be okay for the Pakistan game as of now."
The pitch at Nassau County, described as "semi-dangerous" and unfit for T20 cricket, has been criticized for its uneven surface and large cracks. These conditions have led to unpredictable bounce, making it hazardous for players.
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan and other experts have expressed scathing assessments of the pitch, questioning the lack of practice games to allow the surface to settle.
"It is actually a very fresh pitch. There is a fair grass cover but along with it are big cracks. So it will seam but also take off from length. Now when you have a fresh track like this, you first try out a few games like you do beta testing with a new app. Then you release it in the market. It is not a T20 wicket and all four tracks look the same," said a source close to the Indian team.
Despite these issues, the Indian team management is not expected to file an official complaint about the track. However, the discomfort and displeasure are apparent, particularly after the pitch conditions led to dangerous deliveries during the match against Ireland.
"One should be glad that nothing serious happened to Rohit and Rishabh (Pant). They are fine," the source added. Pant also had a close call during the match, but both players escaped serious injury.
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>AFPIreland's Harry Tector had to undergo a mandatory concussion test after being struck by a Jasprit Bumrah delivery, which first hit his gloves and then his helmet before Virat Kohli completed the catch.
Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan voiced strong criticism of the pitch on Star Sports, saying, "Look, we definitely want to promote cricket in America, but this pitch is not safe for players. If we had a pitch like this in India, a match would never be played there again for a very long time. This pitch is definitely not good. I mean, we are talking about the World Cup here, not even a bilateral series."
(With inputs from PTI)
