IND vs PAK: Amid controversy, Vikram Rathour expresses confidence in Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma to deal with 'semi-dangerous' New York pitch

The pitch at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York has been in the spotlight due to its variable bounce. However, Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour downplayed concerns about the New York pitch, stating that they have the necessary skills and experience to handle challenging conditions.

Indian and Ireland players faced injury concerns during the T20 World Cup 2024 match in New York on Wednesday, June 5. Indian captain Rohit Sharma was hit on the right bicep by a delivery from Ireland's bowler Josh Little. The right-handed batter retired hurt during the run chase in India's World Cup opener.

Rohit Sharma scored 52 runs off 37 balls with the help of four boundaries and three sixes. Rishabh Pant was struck on the left elbow by a delivery from Little. The southpaw required medical attention, but he continued his innings. Pant scored an unbeaten 36 runs off 26 balls, featuring three boundaries and two sixes.

The Indian team management is reportedly disappointed with the pitches at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium in New York due to the unpredictable bounce. However, the Indian cricket team is unlikely to file an official complaint, despite some observers deeming it "semi-dangerous" and "unfit for T20 cricket."

The Rohit Sharma-led team will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in their next match at the same venue on Sunday, June 9. The Men in Blue will be hoping to register a win in their upcoming match and boost their chances of reaching the Super 8 stages of the tournament.

It Is A Challenging Wicket As Far As Batting - Vikram Rathour

When asked about the pitch, Vikram Rathour expressed confidence in the team's skill and experience in handling various conditions. Rathour noted the team is well-prepared to face any challenges in the T20 World Cup 2024.

"It is a challenging wicket as far as batting is concerned but this is what we have so we need to find ways to deal with it. Like I said earlier, we have enough skills and experience in the batting group especially to deal with that. We have enough good batters who can manage to bat well on any kind of surface," Vikram Rathour said.

"I think that has been our strength for many, many years. I think we can adapt really well to different conditions, and I think on this surface you really need to adapt well and take it head-on and not worry about it too much and you're right - we have everybody fit, and they're all looking good. They're all batting well, so yeah, it's a good space to be as a batting coach," he added.

The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium hosted the match between Sri Lanka and South Africa on June 3. Sri Lanka scored just 77 runs on the challenging surface. However, South Africa took 18.2 overs to chase down the target. Batters from both teams found it difficult to adjust to the pace and bounce of the pitch.

Also read: IND vs PAK: Rohit Sharma breaks MS Dhoni's record to become India's most successful T20I captain