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Team India head coach Rahul Dravid has thrown shade at the practice facilities provided for the ongoing T20 World Cup in New York. Dravid expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of proper cricket grounds for training sessions.
‘A bit strange to be practicing in a park’
Speaking to reporters, Dravid remarked on the unusual situation: “It’s a bit strange to be practicing in a park.” He contrasted this experience with the usual practice routines at World Cups, which typically involve training at dedicated cricket stadiums. A hint of sarcasm laced his comment as he added, “Obviously at the World Cups you’d be in big stadiums or you’d be at cricket stadiums traditionally. But you know, we’re at a public park and practicing.”
Spotlight on New York facilities
Dravid’s comments have drawn attention to the facilities in New York, which will host eight of the 16 World Cup matches allocated to the United States. The International Cricket Council (ICC) constructed a temporary stadium for the event. The opening match at this venue saw Sri Lanka crumble for a meagre 77 runs against South Africa, who themselves faced challenges before securing the win.
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Lack of cricket buzz in New York
Beyond the practice facilities, Dravid also noted the absence of a vibrant cricket atmosphere in New York. India are set to play three matches in the city, and Dravid expressed hope that the energy might pick up with the arrival of Indian fans: “Yeah, obviously it’s slightly different. It’s exciting that it’s coming to a new country, a new place. (But) it feels slightly different in terms of, I guess, typically the buzz that you have around these events, with cricket not being one of the major sports in this country.”
Despite the unconventional setting, Dravid emphasized that the Indian team remains focused on their preparation: “So things are certainly different from that perspective. But yeah, I think from a preparation perspective and from what we want to get out of it, I don’t think that’s changed, our preparation, our professionalism, the way we are trying to approach things. It’s pretty, pretty similar to what we would normally do.”
