Cricket

Rohit Sharma Reassures Fans, Praises Pacers After India's T20 World Cup WinIndian cricket captain Rohit Sharma allayed concerns about his fitness after India's eight-wicket victory over Ireland in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Sharma, who retired hurt on 52 during the run-chase, said his arm was only slightly sore."It's a little sore, but nothing too serious," Sharma said at the post-match presentation ceremony. "I'll be fine for the next game."Sharma's injury scare had raised concerns among Indian fans, but his reassurance will come as a relief. The Indian skipper also praised his team's bowlers for their performance on a challenging pitch."The bowlers did a great job," Sharma said. "They bowled to their plans and made it difficult for the Irish batsmen to score."India's pacers shared nine of the 10 Irish wickets, with Hardik Pandya taking three, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh claiming two each, and Mohammad Siraj chipping in with one."We knew the pitch was going to be difficult to bat on," Sharma said. "But our bowlers adapted well and executed their plans perfectly."Sharma also defended his decision to field four spinners in the squad, despite the pitch not being conducive to spin bowling."We wanted to have the balance in the team," Sharma said. "Spin will play a part later on in the tournament."India will face Pakistan in their next match on Sunday, June 9, on the same pitch. Pakistan will be coming from a game against USA in Dallas.Despite the challenging pitch, India's convincing performance with both bat and ball will give them a lot of confidence as they prepare to take on their arch-rivals.

The 2024 T20 World Cup has witnessed two consecutive low-scoring matches, with India's bowlers dominating Ireland in New York. After South Africa dismissed Sri Lanka for a mere 77, India's bowling attack proved equally formidable, restricting Ireland to 96.The pitch in New York has become a major talking point, with excessive movement and variable bounce making batting a challenge. However, India captain Rohit Sharma showcased his adaptability with a comfortable eight-wicket victory.India's batting coach, Vikram Rathour, acknowledged the pitch's difficulty but expressed confidence in his team's ability to adapt. He highlighted the team's experience and skill, particularly in dealing with challenging conditions.Rathour emphasized India's adaptability, stating that they have played together in T20 cricket for a long time and have consistently performed well in different conditions. He believes this gives them an edge over other teams.The toss has become crucial on the challenging pitch, but Rathour emphasized that India needs to find ways to deal with any situation, regardless of whether they bat first or second.A significant change in India's batting strategy has been the inclusion of left-handed wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant at number three. Pant has impressed in the warm-up game and his comeback match against Ireland, indicating his potential to fill the role effectively.Rathour also praised Hardik Pandya's impressive spell of 3-27 in four overs, highlighting his fitness and accuracy.

Canada's Jeremy Gordon, haunted by a costly over in their previous match against USA, redeemed himself with a stellar performance against Ireland in the ongoing T20I series. Gordon's opening spell proved crucial as he exploited the variable bounce of the New York strip, claiming two wickets and conceding just 16 runs in four overs.After the disastrous over against USA, Gordon was determined to make amends. He focused on hitting the back-of-a-length area, which proved effective as Ireland's batters struggled to adjust. Gordon's first wicket came when he dismissed Ireland's captain, Paul Stirling, who mistimed a pull shot and was caught at mid-on.Gordon's redemption was complete when he returned to bowl the final over with Ireland needing 17 runs to win. He bowled a short-of-a-length delivery that Mark Adair miscued, giving Gordon a straightforward catch. Gordon's figures of 4-0-16-2 helped Canada secure a narrow victory.The match also highlighted concerns about the pitch conditions at the New York stadium, which will host the highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan on Sunday. While the wicket was improved from the previous match between Ireland and India, Canada's Nicholas Kirton, who scored 49 runs, admitted that it was still challenging to bat on.Despite the pitch concerns, Gordon's performance was a testament to his resilience and ability to adapt to difficult conditions. Canada will now face Pakistan and India, two of the world's top teams, in their upcoming matches. Gordon's confidence is high, and he believes that Canada can give a good account of themselves if they remain disciplined and focused.

Canada's skipper, Saad Bin Zafar, acknowledged the slowing down of the pitch at the Nassau County ground during the second half of their T20 World Cup match against Ireland, which they ultimately won by 12 runs. Canada's victory marked their first in the tournament.Zafar attributed their success to the strategic inclusion of an extra spinner, praising the performances of both himself and Junaid Siddiqui. The pitch at this venue has been under scrutiny for its challenging batting conditions, with low-scoring games being the norm, especially with the highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan scheduled for Sunday."The wicket got a bit slow today, so it worked to our advantage. We gambled with an extra spinner and I feel both myself and Junaid (Siddiqui) bowled really well," Zafar said at the post-match presentation.Zafar expressed hope that Canada will be able to carry the momentum into their next game against Pakistan. "One game at a time, we need to enjoy this win and come back strong against Pakistan. We are here to play positive cricket," Zafar said.Describing their win as a "proud moment," Zafar praised his side for a unified show. "(It's a) very proud moment for the team. The way Kirton and Movva batted, we knew we had a good total to defend. We needed a good performance from the bowling unit and I am so proud of my bowlers for putting their hand up and delivering," he said.Ireland skipper Paul Stirling, whose batting struggles continued with a meager score of nine, acknowledged that his team was not at their best and hoped for improvement in all aspects of the game. "(It was a) tough loss, we weren't at the races today. The target was gettable and we didn't think we'd struggle too much," he said."We were off in all three facets today, we need to show a better game when we go to Miami and Florida. We don't want to look too far into the future, we've got USA next," Stirling added.Nicholas Kirton, who played a match-winning knock of 49 off 35 balls, emphasized the importance of Canada bouncing back after their heavy defeat against the USA in the tournament opener. He found the pitch to be generally good for batting, with only a small area in the middle causing some inconsistency."Bouncing back from the first game was important. Trust me, it wasn't that easy. (I) just tried to get in, get the pace of the wicket. Honestly it wasn't that bad. There was an area in the middle of the wicket that was a bit up and down, but otherwise it was a good wicket to bat on," he said."It is very good to get our first win in the World Cup. Hopefully we can continue from strength to strength. Our next focus is Pakistan. Two spinners bowled very well (as there was a) bit of purchase on offer," he added.

Virat Kohli's T20 World Cup 2024 campaign got off to a disappointing start as the Indian batter was dismissed for a mere 1 off 5 balls in the team's opening match against Ireland. Kohli's dismissal raised concerns about his form and approach, particularly in light of his recent struggles with strike rate.Kohli's innings was characterized by an eagerness to hit big shots from the outset. However, his attempts to force the issue resulted in his downfall. He danced down the track to a Mark Adair delivery and attempted a lofted shot, only to edge the ball to third man.Former India player Sanjay Manjrekar believes that Kohli was feeling the pressure to maintain a high strike rate, a criticism that has plagued him in the past. Given that India were chasing a modest target of 97 runs, Manjrekar felt that Kohli could have taken a more measured approach."I am very surprised that he got out. He got out while trying to play a shot. Somewhere he was feeling the pressure of strike rate. In IPL he managed it. In this match, he didn't need to play a brisk knock. He would have played normally as in such pitches he would not get out if he plays normally as he has the class of Test cricket," said Manjrekar.Kohli's strike rate has been a subject of intense scrutiny in recent times, particularly during the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, he silenced his critics with a career-best performance in the tournament, winning the Orange Cap with 741 runs at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.70.Despite his impressive IPL performance, Kohli's dismissal in the T20 World Cup opener has raised questions about his ability to adapt to different match situations. With India facing a tough challenge in the tournament, Kohli will need to find his form quickly and contribute significantly to the team's success.

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has silenced his critics with a stellar performance in India's T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Ireland. After a disappointing IPL 2024 campaign, where he captained Mumbai Indians to a dismal four-win season, Pandya has bounced back with a vengeance.In India's emphatic victory over Ireland, Pandya showcased his versatility by claiming three wickets for just 27 runs. His impressive spell helped restrict Ireland to a paltry 96 runs, setting the stage for a comfortable Indian victory.Legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on Pandya, particularly for his ability to bowl four overs consecutively. "When you are playing for India, it's huge. The way he was running in, what was impressive was that he bowled his four overs on the trot," Gavaskar said.Pandya's performance was a testament to his resilience and determination. Despite facing criticism for his lack of form in the IPL, he has proven that he remains a vital cog in the Indian team.In the post-match interview, Pandya expressed his pride in representing India and acknowledged the support of the Indian fans. "Always special to play for the country, always good to play for pride," he said.Pandya's resurgence is a timely boost for India as they aim to defend their T20 World Cup title. His all-round abilities and leadership qualities will be crucial if India is to emerge victorious.

Canada and Ireland Face Off on Tricky New York PitchThe spotlight turns to New York on Friday as Canada and Ireland clash in a crucial match that could shape their paths to the Super Eights. However, the focus has been on the challenging pitch at the venue, which has drawn criticism for its uneven bounce and excessive movement.No team has managed to cross the 100-run mark in four innings played on this surface, raising concerns about the quality of the cricket being played. Fast bowlers have dominated, accounting for 18 of the 26 wickets to fall.Ireland head coach Heinrich Malan expressed frustration after their loss to India, stating that the pitch made it difficult to adjust. He hopes for a flatter surface on Friday to allow for more competitive cricket.Both Canada and Ireland are coming off losses in their opening games, making this match even more significant. Canada has struggled in recent T20Is, losing their last five matches. Their batter Navneet Dhaliwal acknowledged the challenges posed by the New York pitch, emphasizing the need for conventional cricket.Ireland, on the other hand, will look to Mark Adair for inspiration. The all-rounder has been in excellent form this year, leading Ireland's wicket-taking charts with 18 scalps in 10 T20Is. His ability to bowl accurate lengths on this surface could prove crucial.Team news suggests that both sides may opt for pace-heavy attacks. Canada may consider bringing in Rishiv Joshi to bolster their bowling resources, while Ireland could include Ross Adair if Harry Tector is unavailable due to an injury sustained in the India match.The weather forecast for Friday is favorable, with temperatures hovering around 29 degrees Celsius. However, humidity could be a factor.

Ireland will face a formidable challenge when they take on Canada in the T20 World Cup on June 6 in New York. The Irish team, led by Andy Balbirnie, will be eager to bounce back from their disappointing loss to India, while Canada will be looking to build on their impressive performance against the United States.Ireland has a wealth of experience in the T20 World Cup, having participated in eight tournaments. However, they have struggled to make a significant impact, reaching the 'Super 8' only once in 2009. Balbirnie and captain Stirling, who have a combined experience of over 250 T20Is, will be crucial to Ireland's hopes of success.Canada, on the other hand, is a relative newcomer to the T20 World Cup. They will be making their debut in the tournament and will be looking to make a statement. Canada has a strong batting lineup led by Navneet Dhaliwal, who was a key player in their victory over Ireland in the 2019 T20 World Cup Qualifier.The match between Ireland and Canada promises to be a close and exciting contest. Ireland will be favored due to their experience and quality, but Canada has shown that they are capable of upsetting the odds.

Virat Kohli's uncharacteristic failure against Ireland in India's T20 World Cup 2024 opener has sparked a challenge from legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar. Despite India's eight-wicket victory, Kohli's rare poor show, scoring only 1 run from 5 balls, has raised concerns.Gavaskar, however, remains confident in Kohli's ability to bounce back, stating that great players like him tend to make up for lost opportunities in subsequent matches. "They want to score double the runs," Gavaskar said. "And who better to score double the runs than against Pakistan?"India's victory against Ireland marked their most successive wins against a single opponent in T20 cricket. Skipper Rohit Sharma's half-century, Rishabh Pant's finishing touches, and Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah's impressive spells were instrumental in the win.Pant's winning shot in the 13th over sealed the victory, giving India their eighth win against Ireland in T20Is. This victory also extended India's winning streak against Ireland to eight, equaling their record against Bangladesh from 2009 to 2018.India's dominance in T20 cricket is further evident in their seven wins each against Australia, Sri Lanka, and West Indies. The Rohit Sharma-led side has established itself as a formidable force in the shortest format of the game.