'Think about Test match bowling and...' - Rohit Sharma clears his stance on New York pitch with a 'crystal-clear' statement after win against Ireland

After a lot of discussions and controversies around the pitch in the United States of America during the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, India skipper Rohit Sharma broke his silence on the same after his side’s 8-wicket win in the campaign opener against Ireland at the same venue.

Notably, Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to field first considering overcast conditions and the behaviour of the pitch in the previous matches played here during the current season of the tournament. Looking at the pitch, skipper Sharma opted to go with four three mainstream pacers in the playing, including the addition of pace-bowling all-rounder and vice-captain, Hardik Pandya.

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Rohit Sharma opens up on team’s plan for the remainder of the T20 World Cup 2024

Interestingly, India’s all four pacers in the playing went with at least one or more wickets. Rohit’s deputy Hardik scalped 3 wickets at the cost of 27 runs in his quota of 4 overs, alongside two wickets each picked by Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah. Apart from these three, Mohammed Siraj and spin-allrounder Axar Patel also bagged one wicket each, bundling out Ireland at the score of 96 runs in 16 overs.

Meanwhile, the leader of the men in blue, Rohit Sharma also spoke in length about the nature of the pitch at the Nassau County International Cricket International Stadium in New York.

“New ground, new venue, wanted to see what's it like to play on. I don't think the pitch settled down, there was enough there for the bowlers. Good to get points. Stick to your basics, think about Test match bowling. Arshdeep can swing the ball into the right-handers and that set the tone. Don't think we can play four spinners here. If the conditions are there for the seamers, we want them in the squad,” said Rohit Sharma during the post-match presentation after the win against Ireland.

“The spinners will play their part later in the tournament. We are open to making changes to the team's needs. [Pakistan] I don't know what to expect from the pitch but we will prepare as if conditions are going to be like that. That will be a game where all XI of us need to come together and contribute. It was scratchy but good to spend time in the middle, hopefully, we can do the same [against Pakistan],” he added later.

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