Cricket

India's T20 World Cup preparations got underway with a warm-up match against Bangladesh at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Saturday. Captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat, citing challenging conditions. Notably, Virat Kohli missed out on the game, as confirmed by Sharma.The match provided India with a valuable opportunity to acclimatize to conditions similar to those they will encounter in their group stage matches against Ireland, Pakistan, and the United States. Bangladesh, on the other hand, sought to find their winning formula after a disappointing series defeat to the USA.Sharma explained Kohli's absence, stating that he had only arrived the previous day and needed time to adjust. He also revealed that the rest of the squad was available for selection. Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed his desire to bowl first, but acknowledged the need to adapt to the conditions.India's playing XI featured a mix of experienced and emerging players, including Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, and Shivam Dube. Bangladesh fielded a strong side led by Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, and Mahmudullah.The match was a closely contested affair, with both teams showcasing their strengths and weaknesses. India's batting lineup struggled to find consistency, while Bangladesh's bowlers impressed with their accuracy and variations.In the end, India emerged victorious by a narrow margin, providing them with a much-needed confidence boost ahead of the T20 World Cup. The match also highlighted areas for improvement, which the team will undoubtedly address in their remaining preparations.

India vs Bangladesh Warm-Up Match: A Prelude to the T20 World CupIndia and Bangladesh will face off in a crucial warm-up match on Saturday, June 1, at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. This encounter will serve as a vital preparation for both teams ahead of the highly anticipated T20 World Cup 2024.India, led by Rohit Sharma, will be eager to test their squad and fine-tune their strategies before the tournament begins. Star batter Virat Kohli, who recently joined the team, may miss the warm-up match due to a minor injury. However, the likes of KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya will be keen to make an impact.Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing T20I series defeat against the United States. Led by Shakib Al Hasan, the Tigers will be determined to prove their mettle against a formidable Indian side.The match will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network in India and streamed on Disney plus Hotstar. The toss will take place at 7:30 PM IST, with the match scheduled to start at 8:00 PM IST.Key Details:* Date: Saturday, June 1* Venue: Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York* Time: 8:00 PM IST* TV Channels: Star Sports Network* Live Streaming: Disney plus HotstarSignificance:This warm-up match will provide both India and Bangladesh with an opportunity to assess their strengths and weaknesses. It will also allow them to experiment with different combinations and tactics before the high-stakes World Cup.For India, the match will be a chance to build momentum and confidence ahead of their tournament opener against Pakistan. Bangladesh, meanwhile, will be keen to regain their form and prove that they are capable of competing with the best in the world.

Team India engaged in an extensive three-hour practice session in New York on the eve of their T20 World Cup warm-up match against Bangladesh. The session witnessed the participation of key players, including captain Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya, who honed their batting skills in the nets. Star spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and pacer Jasprit Bumrah also took to the nets to sharpen their bowling techniques.Shubman Gill, one of the four traveling reserves, showcased his batting prowess alongside Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube, who fulfilled bowling duties. Dube, who faced challenges with his batting form during the latter stages of the IPL, received guidance from Rohit Sharma on bowling strategies.Hardik Pandya, who endured a disappointing IPL season, engaged in discussions with batting coach Vikram Rathour. Pandya's performance in the IPL was marked by a modest 211 runs in 14 matches and an economy rate exceeding 10 runs per over.Meanwhile, star batter Virat Kohli was notably absent from the practice session due to his delayed arrival in New York. Kohli reportedly requested a break from the BCCI and may miss the warm-up match.The warm-up game against Bangladesh is expected to provide an opportunity for all players, excluding Kohli, to showcase their skills. Kohli is anticipated to arrive before the practice game, but jet lag may prevent him from participating.

India, the inaugural T20 World Cup champions in 2007, will face Bangladesh in a warm-up match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Saturday. This match will serve as a crucial opportunity for India to test the ground conditions and the nature of the drop-in pitches, as they will play their first three group matches against Ireland, Pakistan, and USA at the same venue.Beyond testing the playing conditions, India will also seek answers to several questions that will help captain Rohit Sharma and chief coach Rahul Dravid determine their preferred playing XI.Opening Combination:Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar highlighted the uncertainty surrounding India's opening combination. He suggested three possibilities:* Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma (left-right combination)* Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (left-right combination)* Yashasvi Jaiswal not included in the playing XIWicketkeeper-Batsman:Manjrekar believes that Rishabh Pant should be brought back into the Indian team as soon as possible, and the warm-up match could provide an ideal opportunity. He suggested that Pant could be preferred over Sanju Samson.Preferred Spinners:India has several talented spinners in their squad, including Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal. Manjrekar emphasized the importance of assessing their form and determining the preferred combination.

Scotland and Afghanistan Gear Up for T20 World Cup with Final Warm-Up ClashScotland and Afghanistan will face off in their final warm-up match ahead of the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup at Trinidad's Queen's Park Oval. Both teams will be eager to get a full 20-over match under their belts after rain disrupted their previous warm-up games.Scotland's previous match saw them restrict T20 World Cup debutants Uganda to a modest 90 runs in 18 overs. However, their explosive start with the bat was cut short by rain. Afghanistan, on the other hand, were unable to bat against Oman in their previous game due to the same weather conditions.Both Scotland and Afghanistan will be looking to fine-tune their preparations for the World Cup. Scotland will be hoping to build on their impressive performance against Uganda, while Afghanistan will be keen to get some batting practice after being denied the opportunity in their last match.Scotland's batting lineup boasts experienced players like Kyle Coetzer, George Munsey, and Matthew Cross. They will be looking to set a solid foundation and accelerate the scoring rate in the middle overs. Afghanistan, meanwhile, has a formidable bowling attack led by Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Mohammad Nabi. They will be aiming to restrict Scotland's scoring and create pressure with their spin and pace variations.The match will be a crucial test for both teams as they finalize their strategies and combinations for the World Cup. Scotland will be looking to gain momentum and confidence, while Afghanistan will be eager to prove their credentials as one of the favorites for the tournament.

India's T20 World Cup Preparations Intensify with Warm-Up Match Against BangladeshAs the countdown to the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2024 draws near, the Indian cricket team has arrived in New York to acclimatize to the conditions and fine-tune their preparations. Skipper Rohit Sharma emphasized the importance of getting used to the pitch and conditions ahead of their tournament opener against Ireland on June 5.India's lone warm-up match before the marquee event will be against Bangladesh on June 1. This game will provide the team with a crucial opportunity to test the nature of the pitch and overall conditions. It is also significant because India's matches will start at 10.30 AM local time, requiring the players to adjust to day-time matches after playing under lights in the IPL for the past two months."We're looking to understand the conditions more importantly (before the tournament proper) as we haven't been here before," Rohit told ICC. He stressed the need for his side to get into a "rhythm" before the real action starts, using this warm-up match as a springboard.The challenge for the Indians will be to adapt to the drop-in turf, something they don't encounter often in international cricket. "It's just about getting into that rhythm of getting the feel of the ground, pitch and stuff like that," Rohit said.Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto also expressed his excitement about the warm-up match, despite Bangladesh's recent shocking series defeat against the USA. He praised the excellent construction of the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, noting that it looks "crazy" and "feels great."The warm-up match is expected to draw a large crowd, as fans in New York are eager to witness the World Cup action. Rohit expressed his hope that the stadium will be packed for their matches. "People in New York will be very interested in coming and watching the World Cup, as it is happening for the first time here," he said.

Bangladesh's T20 World Cup preparations suffered a setback as their warm-up match against the United States in Dallas was canceled due to severe thunderstorms. The inclement weather caused flooding and damage to the Grand Prairie Stadium, rendering it unplayable."The conditions of the facilities following the adverse weather have forced us to cancel the match," said Bangladesh team manager Rabeed Iman. "We are disappointed, as this was a crucial opportunity to acclimatize to the venue."The cancellation leaves both teams without any warm-up matches ahead of the tournament. USA, who will host the tournament opener against Canada on June 1, will be particularly affected as they have never played a T20 World Cup match before.Bangladesh, who play their first game against Sri Lanka on June 7, will also be concerned about the lack of match practice. They have never won more than two matches in a T20 World Cup and will be hoping to improve on that record in the United States.The cancellation of the warm-up match adds to the pressure on Bangladesh, who were recently defeated 2-1 by the United States in a T20I series in Houston. The shock defeat raised questions about Bangladesh's form and ability to compete at the highest level.Bangladesh are in Group D of the T20 World Cup, alongside Sri Lanka, South Africa, Nepal, and the Netherlands. They will need to perform well in the group stage to reach the Super 12s, where the top two teams from each group will advance.The United States, meanwhile, are in Group A of the tournament, alongside Canada, India, Pakistan, and Ireland. They will be hoping to make a strong impression in their first T20 World Cup and will be confident of causing an upset or two.