29 May,2024 06:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Team India players during their first practice session in New York (Pic: Screengrab/@BCCI)
After featuring in the IPL 2024 for two months, Team India without Virat Kohli began their T20 World Cup 2024 preparations with a morning session keeping in mind the 10.30 am starts for all its preliminary games.
After Royals Challengers Bengaluru crashed out of the IPL 2024, star batsman Virat Kohli took a break for personal things and will likely join the Indian squad on Friday. But still, it is not clear if he will feature in the warm-up game against Bangladesh on June 1 after a long flight.
After almost playing 90 per cent of the matches under the stadium lights in India's summer, the idea would be to adapt to New York's conditions.
A white kookaburra in slightly windy mornings could be a challenge and to be prepared for that, the severely jet-lagged bodies need to get used to morning conditions.
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This is why the support staff, before initiating the skills training (net sessions) on the practice pitches at a ground on the outskirts of the city, have decided to help the players acclimatise with the conditions.
Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024 | "Gonna play cricket in New York, it's gonna be fun": Jadeja
During their first practice session with 14 players, there was light jogging, routine shuttle runs and foot volley to get into the groove. "They have been away two and half months from us and getting to know where they stand and what needs to be done before the World Cup is the goal. The (first) goal is to spend 45 minutes in the heat to get going," Strength and Conditioning coach Soham Desai told bcci.tv.
"We came in the day before yesterday and we just eased into our routines here, the players are just getting used to the time zone. Today we are having our first ground session," he added.
As far as the players are concerned, there is an element of curiosity about playing cricket in New York. The Indian teams, over the years, have played primarily in Florida at the Fort Lauderhill ground during their tours of the West Indies.
Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja said, "First time we are going to play cricket in New York, it's going be fun."
"We have not yet played cricket, came here for a team activity today. Hopefully, it will be good. The weather is really good, so we are looking forward to it."
Hardik Pandya, the vice-captain of the Indian team seems quite excited with the "bright sunshine" and "good vibes." Whereas, the number one T20I batsman Suryakumar Yadav wants to know more about the diaspora's cricket interests.
"I heard cricket is growing here in the US. So we are really excited and the first day here was amazing, so very excited for the few days coming up," Surya stated.
Team India will begin the T20 World Cup 2024 campaign on June 5 against Ireland. Later, they will lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan on June 9.
They take on hosts USA on June 12 before the cricket caravan moves to familiar Lauderhill in Florida for the game against Canada on June 15. India is supposed to be clubbed A1 irrespective of where they finish in the group and will then proceed to the Caribbean islands for the Super 8 phase of the tournament where they would meet Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
None of the Indian main squad players featured in the IPL 2024 finals held on May 26 in Chennai.
(With PTI Inputs)
