Indian Captain Rohit Sharma Assesses Team’s Performance Ahead of T20 World Cup
New York: Indian skipper Rohit Sharma emphasized that the team is still in the process of finalizing its batting lineup for the upcoming T20 World Cup, downplaying the significance of Rishabh Pant’s promotion to number three in the warm-up match against Bangladesh.
India secured a commanding 60-run victory at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, posting 182 for five and restricting Bangladesh to 122 for nine in their allotted 20 overs on Saturday.
Regarding Pant’s role at number three, Rohit remarked, “We wanted to provide him an opportunity. Our batting order is still a work in progress. The bowlers also performed admirably. Overall, I’m pleased with how things unfolded.”
Pant’s impressive 53 off 32 deliveries, complemented by Hardik Pandya’s brisk 40 off 23 balls and Suryakumar Yadav’s 31 off 18 balls, contributed significantly to India’s total.
“I’m satisfied with our performance. We achieved our objectives for the game,” Rohit stated post-match. “As I mentioned earlier, adapting to the conditions was crucial. It’s a new venue with a drop-in pitch, and we managed that aspect well.”
Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh excelled with the ball, claiming 2/12 in three overs, while all-rounder Shivam Dube also impressed with figures of 2/13 in three overs.
Commenting on Arshdeep’s performance, Rohit acknowledged his skill set, saying, “Arshdeep has consistently shown his abilities, both upfront and at the death. Today, he swung the ball early on and executed well towards the end. We have a strong squad of 15 players, and we’ll assess conditions to determine our best combination.”
Head coach Rahul Dravid noted that the pitch had some soft and spongy spots but praised the team’s adaptability and performance. “The batsmen posted a competitive score, and the bowlers executed their plans effectively,” Dravid remarked in a BCCI video.
India’s preparation for the T20 World Cup received a boost with Pant’s impressive fifty, likely cementing his role as the primary wicketkeeper-batter for the tournament.
“We’re pleased with the outing today. Despite some challenges, we’re adapting well to the conditions,” said Arshdeep, reflecting on the team’s adaptation to the sand-based ground and morning practice sessions.
Dube, known for his powerful hitting and medium pace bowling, highlighted the importance of the warm-up match in readiness for the T20 World Cup. “It was a good experience to play here. The match helped us acclimatize to batting, bowling, and fielding under these conditions,” he concluded.
