New York pitch bit spongy, says coach Rahul Dravid after India win T20 World Cup warm-up game

India beat Bangladesh by 60 runs in a T20 World Cup game in New York.

Indian cricket team captian Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Yuzvendra Chahal during the India – Bangladesh T20 World Cup 2024, Warm-up match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, Saturday, June 1, 2024. India won by 60 runs. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: The pitch at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium where India played their T20 World Cup warm-up game is a bit spongy in nature, head coach Rahul Dravid said.

India defeated Bangladesh 60 runs on Saturday and would take on Ireland on June 5 in their tournament opener at the same venue.

The drop-in pitch at the newly-built stadium remained true throughout the course of the game. After the game Dravid spoke about the nature of the wicket.

He pointed out that the soft pitch could put on a strain on the players’ hamstrings and calves and his coaching staff was trying to ensure they don’t pick up an injury.

“It’s great to get a good hit-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 in a video posted by BCCI on its official social media channels.

“A little bit spongy 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.”

The ground was built in 103 days after construction started on February 18. It was inaugurated on May 15 by eight time Olympic gold medallist Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.

Once the stadium was prepare, drop-in pitches were brought from Australia and fitted in the square.