Cricket

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised the performance of the United States men's cricket team during the ICC T20 World Cup held in the United States and West Indies earlier this year. Addressing an Indian diaspora event at the Nassau Coliseum in New York, PM Modi said, "Some days back here, the T20 World Cup took place. The USA team played so well in that competition. That team had so many Indian people who are living here and their contributions were witnessed by the whole world."The USA hosted 16 matches during the T20 WC 2024, which was held from June 1 to June 29. Matches took place in New York's Nassau County Stadium, Texas's Grand Prairie Stadium, and Florida's Central Broward Park. The USA team performed admirably, finishing second in the Group Stages with two wins and a loss. They defeated Pakistan in a thrilling Super Over and gave India a tough fight while defending a low total of 111 runs.In the Super Eights, the USA lost all three of their matches but gave a strong performance against finalists South Africa, losing by 18 runs while chasing 195. This was the USA's first World Cup appearance in either the 20 or 50-over formats.Several players who represented India at the U19 level had strong performances for the USA in the tournament. Saurabh Netravalkar took six wickets, including those of Indian stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammed Rizwan, and South African captain Aiden Markram. Harmeet Singh, an Indian U19 bowler who played for India in the 2012 U19 WC and domestic cricket for Mumbai, also played for the USA, taking four wickets and scoring 69 runs in four innings.USA captain Monank Patel scored a crucial half-century against Pakistan, helping his team reach 159/3. India won the tournament, ending their 11-year ICC trophy drought.PM Modi's praise for the USA cricket team highlights the growing popularity of cricket in the United States and the contributions of Indian-American players to the sport.

Cricket has made its grand debut in New York, captivating the hearts of thousands of Indian fans who flocked to the Nassau County ground on Wednesday morning. The usually quiet Westbury station transformed into a sea of blue as commuters were greeted by the unexpected sight of cricket enthusiasts.Buses arranged by the ICC to transport fans from the station were filled to capacity, carrying a diverse crowd from across the US and Canada. The Indian Diaspora, adorned in tri-color paint and waving flags, expressed their excitement for the arrival of their beloved sport."This is our very own, this is what we live for," exclaimed Abhay, a techie from Boston who had driven for hours to witness the historic moment.Among the crowd was Shyamali Chakraborty, an elderly woman from Kolkata who had traveled with a group of 17. "We came here for a picnic," she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm.The Indian team's captain, Rohit Sharma, had promised to "leave something" for the fans, and the bowlers delivered on that promise. The band played, the tri-color fluttered, and the crowd erupted in cheers as India's bowlers dominated the opposition.The atmosphere was electric as the Indian fans reveled in the celebration of their sport on a new shore. Despite the unavailability of tickets for the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match, fans remained optimistic, hoping to witness the magic of Virat Kohli's batting.Cricket's arrival in New York marks a significant milestone for the sport, bringing together a passionate community of fans and showcasing the global appeal of the game.