The excitement surrounding the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is palpable, with Team India gearing up for their opening match against Ireland on June 5. Speculation has been rife about India’s opening batting combination, but head coach Rahul Dravid has remained tight-lipped about their final decision.
Despite young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal not getting a chance to bat during the practice match against Bangladesh on June 1, Dravid clarified that the choice of Rohit Sharma’s opening partner for the tournament is still under consideration.
“We’ve got options, so we are obviously not going to reveal our cards just yet, but certainly we’ve got options. We have Rohit and Jaiswal, and Virat opened in the IPL as well. We picked the team keeping in mind that we have three options and we could pick and choose what we wanted depending on the conditions and kind of combination we go into these games with,” Rahul Dravid said, as quoted by Times of India.
ALSO READ: Riyan Parag Praises Hardik Pandya Amidst Fan Criticism And Boos In IPL 2024
The playing surface at the Nassau County ground in New York has drawn attention for its inconsistent bounce and sluggish outfield. Dravid, however, remained calm, emphasizing the team’s focus on adapting to challenging conditions.
“We had three practice sessions here. From the third session onwards, the wicket became better. But a wicket is a wicket. We don’t want to label it as bad or good. It is a wicket and you have to manage and you have to adjust to it. So we will not complain about the wicket,” he added.
Acknowledging the unique challenges posed by the venue, Rahul Dravid noted that the traditional benchmark of a 200-run target might not apply in this tournament.
“As we talk about T20 cricket, maybe we won’t be able to play like that in this tournament. Maybe in this venue. We will hopefully play in many venues. So, it will be different there. So, it will be important to adapt,” he further commented.
ALSO READ: Michael Vaughan says England cannot afford to do the same of 2023 World Cup in 2024 T20 WC
Rahul Dravid underscored the importance of flexibility in strategy, depending on the conditions and opponents. “Maybe that will be the winning score. In some matches, there will be a winning score of 200. So whatever the score is, you will have to react and adapt,” he concluded.
India’s preparation and strategy will be put to the test as they face Ireland, with fans eagerly anticipating the team’s performance and the unveiling of their final lineup.
