IND vs IRE: "Guys could feel that on the hamstring..." - Rahul Dravid's shocking revelation on New York Stadium

Team India's Head Coach, Rahul Dravid, shared his thoughts on the newly constructed Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. Rahul Dravid mentioned that the pitch was soft and spongy following the victory against Bangladesh in the warm-up match on Saturday, June 1.

The Men in Blue secured a 60-run victory over Bangladesh in their lone warm-up match ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. Led by Rohit Sharma, the team opted to bat first and set a target of 183 runs. The Indian bowlers then restricted the opposition to 122 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs.

The Rohit Sharma-led team will play their first T20 World Cup 2024 match against Ireland at this ground on Wednesday, June 5. The Men in Blue will play against Pakistan and the United States in New York on June 9 and 12, respectively. They will play their final match against Canada in Florida on Saturday, June 15.

Looks Like A Good Facility - Rahul Dravid

In a video shared by the BCCI on social media, Rahul Dravid mentioned that the ground was a bit soft, which could potentially affect the players' hamstrings and calves. He emphasized the need to prioritize the players' well-being given the ground's condition.

"It's great to get a good it-out. Obviously, it looks like a good facility in terms of as quickly as they have put up. The ground is a bit soft the guys could feel that on the hamstring and the calves. So that's the area we need to ensure that we are working around and ensuring that the guys are looking after does feel a little bit heavy underneath," Dravid said.

Rishabh Pant scored a half-century to solidify his position as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman. The left-handed batter scored 53 runs off 32 balls before retiring out. Hardik Pandya showcased his hitting abilities after a challenging IPL 2024 season, scoring 40 off 23 balls, including two fours and four sixes.

A Little Bit Spungy At Times - Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid mentioned that the pitch was a bit spongy at times. Dravid praised the batters for putting up an above-par score and the bowlers for their excellent performance. The head coach hoped that the team would prepare well for the next couple of days to be ready for the upcoming matches.

"A little bit spungy at times but I thought we coped really well, we managed that really well. The batters had put an above-par score on that wicket and the bowlers came out and bowled really well. All and all we got run-around and to get a game here is really nice. Hopefully we can prepare well for the next couple of days and be ready," Dravid added.

The stadium, with a capacity of 34,000 seats, was built in an impressive 103 days. The venue was inaugurated on May 15 by Olympic legend Usain Bolt. The stadium is slated to host eight matches, including three involving India. Drop-in pitches from Australia were brought in after the stadium's completion.

Also read: IND vs IRE: Riyan Parag makes sensational comments on Virat Kohli ahead of India's T20 World Cup opener