The Indian men’s cricket team will face arch-rivals Pakistan in its second Group A match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Sunday. The IND vs PAK T20 World Cup 2024 match is scheduled to start at 8:00 PM IST. Live streaming and live telecast will be available in India. Both India and Pakistan are former T20 World Cup winners. India famously beat Pakistan in the final at Johannesburg to become the inaugural champions in 2007, while the Men in Green won the subsequent edition in 2009. However, neither side has won the trophy since. Pakistan made it to the final in the last edition in 2022 but eventually lost.
Will India be able to defeat Pakistan in their first face-off in the T20 World Cup? Experts discuss this in the new episode of Pitch Battle.
#INDvsPAK #T20WorldCup #RohitSharma #ViratKohli #BabarAzam #MenInBlue #CricketRivalry #PitchBattle #WorldCup2024 #CricketFever #GameDay #TeamIndia #PakistanCricket #EpicClash #SportsEvent #CricketFans #LiveCricket #CricketMatch
~ED.102~PR.152~GR.121~HT.96~
Will India be able to defeat Pakistan in their first face-off in the T20 World Cup? Experts discuss this in the new episode of Pitch Battle.
#INDvsPAK #T20WorldCup #RohitSharma #ViratKohli #BabarAzam #MenInBlue #CricketRivalry #PitchBattle #WorldCup2024 #CricketFever #GameDay #TeamIndia #PakistanCricket #EpicClash #SportsEvent #CricketFans #LiveCricket #CricketMatch
~ED.102~PR.152~GR.121~HT.96~
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00:00 Hello, everyone. You're watching Pitch Battle. I'm your host, Indranil Basu.
00:08 India-Pakistan. I mean, it can't get better and bigger than that.
00:13 We're seeing the pitch battle means there's been a lot of talk about the pitch.
00:20 How the pitch is going to be. What we saw yesterday, Ireland vs Canada, the pitch was marginally better.
00:27 Because they used heavy roller and things like that. But still not there.
00:32 You're not seeing those at-pass goals like we saw in IPL 180+.
00:36 How it's going to pan out. I mean, we're all tensed about the match.
00:41 Just imagine if India would lose the toss and Pakistan would send us to bat first.
00:45 It will be a nightmarish start to a great campaign which India of course started on a high by winning the first game against Ireland.
00:54 How it's going to be. We're joined by Avinash, who is the editor of MyKhel.
01:01 We have Shakya Mitra, sports marketing expert.
01:06 We have Souravdeep Ash, who is also a cricket journalist with MyKhel.
01:12 Gentlemen, welcome to the show. I wanted to get a hang of it. How things would move forward.
01:18 If I can start with Avinash. Avinash, if God forbids, we lose the toss, what happens?
01:26 Then, Dada, the onus will be on the likes of Rishabh Pant, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav.
01:36 Who just proved that they are the best batters in the world.
01:40 And the best batter should not be afraid with the kind of surface that is going to be there in front of them.
01:49 And also the opposition. Yes, Pakistan has a brilliant bowling attack.
01:53 But we saw the other day what the US, the inexperienced or so-called minnows did to them.
01:59 They were a flying start. They capitalized.
02:03 Yet, the match ended in a tie. But eventually, the US batters just trumped the big guns of Pakistan.
02:12 And that's where the message of an Indian batter should look at.
02:17 In the past as well, a lot was being talked about.
02:21 Remember, during the 2023 World Cup match between India and Pakistan in Ahmedabad.
02:27 I was there and the talk was, how are we going to counter the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi.
02:33 But we dealt them pretty well.
02:35 And that's how I expect the Indian batters to take up this challenge.
02:41 Yes, in the past, we have seen them struggling.
02:44 Especially during the T20 World Cup, the back-to-back T20 World Cup.
02:48 The last two T20 World Cup, we saw them struggle.
02:51 Especially in the Melbourne match, we were down in no and with a little runs on the board.
02:59 But eventually, India ended up winning that match.
03:02 So, somebody like Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma will have to bring their A-game.
03:08 We saw what happened in Ahmedabad, the Narendra Modi Stadium.
03:13 Rohit played a very… Captain's knock. A beautiful knock.
03:17 Constructed the innings literally very well in a low-scoring game.
03:22 So, the match-ups, the past experiences, they are all being sidelined when India and Pakistan are on the pitch.
03:31 But fortune favours the brave, as they say.
03:34 We hope to see that.
03:38 Chaudhary, I want to know your opinion.
03:41 How important is it going to be for India?
03:46 If suppose they are made to bat first, is it going to be equal level playing field for both the teams?
03:52 Because India, as we can make out from what Avinash is saying, is on a higher pedestal.
03:58 How do you see that?
03:59 India bat first and then defending it.
04:02 How do you see that challenge coming in front of India?
04:07 India bat first.
04:08 I think the match will be decided in the first six overs.
04:12 If the batters of us like Rohit Sharma and others play aggressive cricket in the power play.
04:19 I think because we have seen that this Pakistan team, yeah, they have big names, they have decent bowlers.
04:25 But they jitter at the time of when they need.
04:29 Because we saw in the Super Over in the last match, they are all over the place, bowling wide, giving away extra runs.
04:35 So, if we start aggressively, especially with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and if Rishabh Pant comes in.
04:41 If we lose the wicket and if we start aggressively, I think we can put the Pakistan bowlers under pressure.
04:47 And from then on, we can be in the driver's seat.
04:50 Because we know the pitch has been doing a bit.
04:53 We have seen this double-page, people have been criticising all these things.
04:57 But if we bat and suppose if we lose the toss and bat, and if we start well, give them some lusty blows,
05:04 fours or sixes in the first two, three overs, get somewhere like 40 for nil or 30 for nil after the first three or four overs.
05:10 Then the pressure will be right back on Pakistan.
05:13 And we can capitalise from there.
05:15 Because what we have seen in the last couple of months or so, historically with this Pakistan team,
05:20 that is that they crumble under pressure.
05:22 So, even if we bat first and if we can put the pressure on them, I think they are going to have some difficulties.
05:28 And we can have real leeway and advantage from there on.
05:32 I think it will be very important that we get a good start in the power play, even if we bat first.
05:37 Well, we need to, actually. We need to be ultra-aggressive.
05:41 That's how I would love to see Indian team coming out all guns blazing.
05:46 Shakya, what's the plan on Sunday?
05:51 I mean, of course, we are thinking about, we are watching all the matches, we are following them.
05:55 Saturday, also, we have a few matches today also lined up.
05:59 But all eyes are on that important game.
06:02 And how do you see that challenge coming along for India?
06:07 How tense India would be?
06:09 They would be sort of worried about the fact that Pakistan would come hard at them.
06:13 The bowlers, you know, the Mohammed Amid and company.
06:17 I mean, how do you see that challenge coming up for the Indian batters?
06:20 I think after losing the game against USA and the fact that USA has already won two matches against Canada and Pakistan themselves,
06:29 this is a must-win match for Pakistan.
06:31 And they have not been… It's an unfamiliar situation for them.
06:34 They would have ideally wanted to have won the USA match.
06:37 But they are really under pressure now.
06:40 But just a thought on the previous matches that we have had with Pakistan and this match.
06:45 We played them in Dubai in 2021.
06:49 And you know, Dubai is like a virtual home ground for Pakistan.
06:53 Because Pakistan was for a long time playing their matches in the UAE.
06:58 And then Melbourne. Melbourne is historically known to be a seamer-friendly wicket.
07:06 So, India had lost a lot of wickets in the powerplay in that particular game that happened a couple of years ago.
07:15 And Virat Kohli played that outstanding innings to win them a match which seemed very difficult at one point of time.
07:21 This seems to be a different pitch.
07:25 And of course, yesterday, the Canada-Ireland match was played in New York and it shaped up better.
07:32 Obviously, neither Canada nor Ireland have the quality that bigger sides like India and Pakistan possess.
07:42 But still, the match was better.
07:44 If I am correct, it was 128 which was made.
07:49 And they could have made more runs than that.
07:51 But tomorrow's game would be...
07:55 Let's see how tomorrow's game goes.
08:01 It's going to be played as a day match.
08:03 An India-Pakistan match being played as a day match is also another unfamiliar thing.
08:09 But I think that will make a difference.
08:12 I think under floodlights, it's one of the things people talk about playing matches under floodlights is that the ball moves a bit under the lights.
08:20 Whereas, from what we have seen on this pitch, it's more the pitch which is going to do the work for the bowlers.
08:28 So, maybe the fact that it's a day match might actually work to India's advantage.
08:33 Playing under floodlights was something which would have been more beneficial towards the kind of bowlers Pakistan has.
08:40 But yeah, tomorrow is a big day on the whole.
08:45 There is the swearing-in ceremony which is happening at 7.15.
08:50 And there is also the print-open final.
08:52 So, big day for all sports.
08:56 But I am sure everyone's eyes are glued on the India-Pakistan match.
09:00 And I think that's what we all want.
09:03 But yeah, it's a big day on the whole.
09:06 I think Indian fans especially would be hoping that India ends up winning the toss.
09:14 So that even if the crucial 30-40 minutes of the game time goes into watching the swearing-in ceremony,
09:24 they will make up because they want the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma to dominate the Pakistani bowlers.
09:32 Yes, India's strength in the past, if you look at against Pakistan, is their bowling.
09:40 And I think the deciding factor for India tomorrow also is going to be the way they bowl.
09:45 And how our bowlers perform against the Pakistani batting lineup.
09:49 Because as Shakir just mentioned, they are going to be under a lot of pressure because it's a two-order game for them.
09:55 They are already facing stiff challenge from US.
10:00 If one match, US ends up winning, they have a big chance of qualifying to the Super 8.
10:06 So, yes, India being India, they have been a clinical side.
10:11 But Pakistan is a vitriolic side.
10:14 And with teams like Pakistan, you never really know.
10:18 Absolutely.
10:21 Sauradip, before I come to you, I want to know from Avinash, what is happening with this World Cup?
10:30 All the lesser-known teams are winning. Bangladesh won, Canada won, US won.
10:37 So, people were talking about that this World Cup, we have too many teams and too many minors coming and doing their bit.
10:45 Is it good? I mean, Chakya yesterday made a very pertinent point.
10:50 Is it good for the fact that smaller teams are winning, it can go far and wide?
10:53 But your thoughts on that, Avinash?
10:56 Of course, it's always good for the game to have many teams.
11:01 And also, the fact, Dada, that not many teams have played against these oppositions.
11:07 So, preparing a game plan also becomes crucial, vital for the team management.
11:12 There is no match-up, they don't have much of history riding into the game.
11:17 There is no head-to-head records.
11:20 And also, the team management is not that aware.
11:24 And this is the beauty.
11:26 Yesterday, what Chakya was trying to say, he was drawing parallels between football and cricket.
11:32 And this is the beauty of FIFA World Cup, where no lesser-known team comes up and it not just beats a giant,
11:41 but also ends up progressing to the next stages.
11:44 And something similar should be happening to cricket every now and then, in every competition.
11:52 We have already seen the ODI format World Cup has been restricted to 10 teams in the tournament.
12:00 And sometimes it gets boring.
12:02 The double round-robin format or the single round-robin format, whatever we call.
12:07 These, at times, because people expect something out of it.
12:11 But when something unexpected happens, the sport just grows.
12:16 Let's just speak about the action which is happening on social media.
12:20 Suddenly, the entire US has woken up.
12:23 And they are enquiring about the game of cricket.
12:25 We have seen so many people posting on X that suddenly their friends are asking what this game of cricket is all about.
12:33 Just help me understand, because if you are drawing parallels between football and cricket,
12:40 how big is it an upset that USA staged against Pakistan?
12:44 So, it's all good for the game.
12:47 ICC, I think, they would have not asked for a better start to the tournament.
12:54 Because people are actually glued to the televisions or mobile screens.
13:00 So, yes, the more, the merrier.
13:03 And I hope in the next 10 years or 12 years down the line, I see at least 40 teams competing in a T20 World Cup.
13:12 And the best teams… I mean, it is a month-long, maybe more, two-month-long tournament happening where the entire world gets a representation.
13:25 Alright. Sauradeep, you know, 2021, Australia were the champions.
13:31 2022, England. Both these teams are playing tonight.
13:35 It's a mini-Ashes kind of a thing.
13:37 I think in Barbados, they have played that game.
13:40 Yes, Barbados.
13:42 You have got a good look at how these two teams have shaped up also.
13:47 Because it's not about India-Pakistan. We are a little off.
13:50 What is happening in India-Pakistan?
13:52 There are other teams also doing well.
13:54 So, how do you see this?
13:56 One is a defending champion. One is the… Previously, they won the World Cup.
14:02 Australia, they also won it for the first time.
14:06 They have that combination.
14:08 I mean, just imagine, a player like Steve Spindle doesn't find a place in the team.
14:13 So, you can imagine the kind of standards they have set.
14:15 But how do you see these two teams coming into this World Cup?
14:19 England, defending champion.
14:21 We know what they have. They have the depth, the all-round ability.
14:24 So, these two teams… Of course, we are worried about Pakistan.
14:28 How do you see these two teams as an opposition for India in days to come?
14:32 I think both teams are excellent.
14:36 Because we have seen the revolution of English cricket in the last few years.
14:39 Especially in the T20 format.
14:41 They are excellent players, match-winners in their team.
14:43 And Australia, as we know, they have the champion DNA inside them.
14:48 Whether they struggle, they may struggle in one or two.
14:50 But at the crunch time, they always come back.
14:53 We saw it in the World Cup 2023.
14:55 Two losses in the start and then they came back so well.
14:59 So, I think both of them will be a huge challenge.
15:02 I still believe that Australia may be just a bit bigger challenge for India.
15:07 When it comes to the crunch situations.
15:09 Because they do have the winning mentality.
15:12 But we can't forget that when the last time the T20 World Cup was played in West Indies.
15:18 England were the champions back in 2010, if I am not wrong.
15:22 So, both the teams, they have excellent individual players, match-winners in their team.
15:27 But I still reckon that Australia do have the slighter advantage because of their pace at all.
15:33 They have some excellent pacers like Mitchell Star, Pat Cummins and also the batters who are very much quality as well.
15:40 So, I do believe Australia will be a bigger challenge for India compared to England.
15:43 But make no mistake, England can be a threat as well, for sure.
15:47 Alright, we will see that.
15:50 I can only say that.
15:52 But we are going to be relieved after tomorrow, I guess.
15:55 After the big game gets over.
15:58 Get the monkey off your back.
16:00 That's what they say.
16:01 India-Pakistan match.
16:03 Shakya, the next big challenge after India would be the other teams.
16:07 And I think US is also quite a challenge for us.
16:10 The way they are playing.
16:11 They have two wins.
16:11 And looking at this group, we talk about group of death and all that.
16:16 I think the group of death has already happened in the India-Pakistan group.
16:19 Your thoughts on this?
16:20 Pakistan can qualify.
16:23 Suppose India lose to Pakistan.
16:25 Then even Stevens.
16:27 How do you do it?
16:29 I mean, just explain to me how things can move forward for Pakistan and India for the next stages.
16:35 Yeah, so, if Pakistan beats India, I think it evens things up for both sides.
16:44 Though India will have a bit of an edge because their coming games would be a little bit easier.
16:51 For Pakistan, if they lose tomorrow, it's tough.
16:55 Because if USA beats Ireland, and assuming they don't beat India, if they beat Ireland, USA qualifies.
17:02 Irrespective of whether…
17:05 Well, not irrespective.
17:06 If Pakistan loses tomorrow and USA beats Ireland, USA will qualify.
17:09 Pakistan doesn't have a chance.
17:10 And the groups for the next stage have already been made.
17:16 India is number one in their group.
17:18 So, their group for the next stage will have Australia…
17:23 Scheduled to have Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
17:26 So, Australia will probably go through.
17:29 Now, New Zealand and Sri Lanka are in a bit of a sticky situation right now.
17:34 Sri Lanka has lost to Bangladesh.
17:36 And New Zealand lost to Afghanistan.
17:41 Afghanistan is not a side that can be taken lightly.
17:43 And Bangladesh also is an improving side.
17:46 So, India, even if the results as they have happened so far in the tournament stick, we could be facing…
17:53 We are as likely to face Bangladesh and Afghanistan in the next round as we are to have faced New Zealand and Sri Lanka as was originally envisaged.
18:03 And Afghanistan, they played really, really well today.
18:08 I watched little bits of the match and the way they batted, especially Gurbaz and the bowler of the team, Fadwalak Farooqui and Rashid Khan.
18:21 They are not going to be easy for any team.
18:24 I think they could be a threat even for the hosts, West Indies, who are in the same group as them.
18:28 And even in the next phase, I mean, if Afghanistan goes through, they could play India, they could play Australia, assuming Australia qualifies.
18:35 And they have unfinished business with Australia because they should have nearly…
18:39 They were all over them in the 50-over World Cup match when Glenn Maxwell played probably the greatest innings ever played in the history of ODI cricket.
18:48 So, I think, you are having a conversation about Minnows.
18:52 Again, Afghanistan, they are now a test-playing nation.
18:56 They are a top-10 country.
18:58 But they are still not yet reached that tag of an established side.
19:06 And if they end up doing something special in this tournament, it will be brilliant for them.
19:10 But at the moment, the first phase is still going on.
19:14 So, we don't know who is qualifying as yet.
19:16 But whoever we face, Afghanistan or New Zealand in the next round, they will be tough.
19:23 But it looks like Afghanistan has given themselves a good chance of going through the second round and India facing one.
19:29 In fact, you have raised a wonderful point about Afghanistan being a force to reckon with.
19:35 We have seen it in the last Excercise Cup, we have seen them in the World Cup.
19:39 They are really improving with every passing day.
19:41 Avinash, is India-Pakistan battle is going to be like India-Pak battle?
19:48 Is it like Pakistan will be replaced by Afghanistan in days to come?
19:52 Do you see that happening?
19:53 Kind of consistency they are showing as a team.
19:56 Your thoughts?
19:58 I think it's still a distant thing.
20:03 Because we should not forget the fact that Afghanistan hardly plays any cricket at home.
20:10 So, they don't have a home venue.
20:12 They are either reliant on India or UAE which is a neutral venue where they end up playing their home matches.
20:21 So, for the development of a team as a whole, it is very important for it to be hosted in the host nation, played in front of the home crowd.
20:32 A lot many youngsters need to be inspired so they end up dreaming to become the next Rashid Khan, next Fazal Haq Parooti or Rahmanullah Ghorbaz or Mohammed Naveez for that matter.
20:46 Which is not happening in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
20:50 They are still struggling.
20:52 Yes, the players who are all representing the nation, they are doing tremendously well.
20:59 Because the rise of T20 leagues, the franchise-based T20 model has done a world of good to these nations.
21:07 Because the players are consistently playing.
21:09 They are travelling.
21:11 They are already across the globe.
21:13 They are there and gaining a lot of experience.
21:17 But does that experience percolate to the grassroot level?
21:21 I doubt. Because these are the players who are professionally there.
21:25 But when the entire system comes up, what is the status of Afghanistan's cricket in the schools?
21:31 What is the culture over there?
21:33 How the college system is coming up?
21:35 So, all that also needs to be done for a nation, a country to progress as a cricketing powerhouse.
21:43 Which has been there in the Pakistani system.
21:47 Which is not there in Afghanistan.
21:49 So, I don't think Afghanistan replacing Pakistan in terms of the rivalry factor as far as India and Pakistan are concerned.
22:01 In fact, over the years, we have been lucky that India has ended up winning the matches against Bangladesh.
22:09 But if you look at the last two, three world cups, even the last T20 world cup, Afghanistan were off to a flying start.
22:15 Littam Das, he had given a flying start to the team.
22:21 They were cruising in the ranches.
22:23 If not for that rain and interruption, I think the momentum just shifted into the Indian dressing room.
22:29 Right after the match was resumed.
22:33 So, sometimes, even in the 2016 T20 world cup, let's refresh our memories.
22:41 Had it not been for the brilliance of ML Dhoni, we would have ended up losing the match at M.Chenna Swamy against the Bangladesh team.
22:51 So, this team is progressing, graduating gradually on a better side.
22:59 We have seen them become the U-19 champions as well.
23:03 So, I think Pakistan and India, it's not just about the kind of cricket these two teams play.
23:09 It's also about the two countries.
23:13 The dynamics between two countries also play a lot of role when it comes to the high-profile India-Pakistan matches.
23:21 I still believe an India-England and an India-Australia match in a T20 world cup is far much more competitive than the India-Pakistan matches.
23:31 Alright. Very pertinent point. The point you mentioned about how Pakistan struggled also.
23:40 They didn't have cricket at home for such a long time.
23:43 We saw they were playing foul also and they really contributed a lot.
23:48 Shraddhiv, I want to know from you. Indian team playing against Pakistan.
23:53 Last time, we had seen the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma playing a T20 world cup match against them.
24:01 You see, this is going to be their last. How do you see that happening for them?
24:05 I think, surely, it is going to be their last because the way the thing has been going on for the past few months,
24:12 you can kind of say, kind of presume that this is going to be their last world cup.
24:17 Because Rohit is, I think, 37 and Virat is 35.
24:20 And I think, the next T20 world cup is maybe in 2026.
24:25 So, I don't see them playing again after this world cup.
24:30 So, it is going to be their last for sure.
24:32 As it is going to be their swan song, I think, both of them would be desperate to end up on a winning note.
24:38 So, that makes it a bit of an onus for the entire team to perform well.
24:43 Because we have seen in the 2021 was a disaster.
24:46 2022, we went to the semi-finals and then got ousted by England.
24:50 But as this is, presumably, we can just expect that this is going to be the last of this Rohit and Virat.
24:56 I think, the entire team must know and they will be playing according to that.
25:01 And they will be hoping to lift it at the end of the tournament. That's for sure.
25:05 I hope that happens. In any which ways, we have been waiting for it for the last 11 years.
25:11 Sauravdeep, you would be aware of it. Eden Gardens also shaping up quite well for the 2026 T20 world cup.
25:18 Which is going to be held in India.
25:20 Hopefully, Eden Gardens will get those big matches.
25:23 Semi-finals and if not finals, I don't know.
25:25 Anything could happen. But they are increasing the capacity of that ground.
25:28 Are you aware of it?
25:30 No, actually, I was not.
25:34 Okay. Okay. Okay.
25:36 Go ahead, please.
25:42 Yeah, since you are talking about Rohit and Virat and their possible last appearance against Pakistan.
25:49 I think, Rohit, both these men owe a lot of their legacy towards past matches against Pakistan.
25:58 If you remember, Rohit, in his very first outing in a major international tournament in the 2007 world T20.
26:04 His 30 of 16 in the final was extremely integral to India winning that match and being crowned champions.
26:16 And though, not done that well in the T20 world cup against Pakistan.
26:22 I would say, Virat has done better than him, better than Rohit when it comes to T20 world cup.
26:28 But Rohit's record in the ODI world cup against Pakistan is extremely good.
26:32 And yeah, I mean, both these players deserve a… I hope both these greats get a good send-off.
26:42 Probably their last ever match against Pakistan as well in the T20 world cup.
26:48 But again, the way the pitches are playing out in this tournament.
26:52 And we don't know. We don't know. India hasn't played the West Indies leg.
26:56 But we are seeing some other matches going on in the West Indies leg.
26:59 It could prove to be a masterstroke to pick both these two men.
27:04 Because maybe we are not expecting 1800-plus pitches in this tournament.
27:10 If there are 160-170 type pitches, then Rohit and Virat are absolutely fine for those pitches.
27:17 I mean, Virat would have done well on a 180-plus pitch as well.
27:20 But Rohit's technique and everything would be extremely handy if we have low-scoring pitches.
27:27 And of course, we know how well he plays spin. So, I think, let's see. Let's hope for the best.
27:33 Let's hope for the best. And it seems, if these are slower pitches, it seems that it could be a masterstroke picking both of these two men.
27:39 Alright. We will wait and watch how things happen there.
27:45 But pitch battle, we talked about yesterday's pitch in New York.
27:49 Canada vs Ireland. I thought it was playing a little better.
27:54 Problem remains. It's still seeming. It's going up and down.
28:01 So, how do you see? BCC may have done something to the ICC that this is what you are doing for India-Pakistan game.
28:09 What are you up to? Whose idea was it to take it to New York?
28:13 And things like that. This is a serious game.
28:16 They are taking Barbados and where all?
28:20 Other leg matches are happening there. What was the point of taking it to America?
28:24 So, your thoughts on how pitch behaved yesterday? Are you happy with it?
28:28 Is it getting better? Because more matches you play, the pitch will get… The undulated part will be taken care of.
28:35 But how do you see that happening tomorrow? And what was your impression after watching the Ireland-Canada game?
28:40 It's quite evident that BCCI has definitely grilled ICC for laying out the strip that we see.
28:49 There is no doubt about that. Because you see the cloud BCCI has when it comes to the ICC podium.
28:59 They must have definitely pulled some strings. Not just India.
29:04 They would have asked their allies, likes of Zimbabwe, likes of England for that matter.
29:11 Even New Zealand and all these nations.
29:14 The BCCI over the years has had a very cordial relationship with the lesser-known boards.
29:21 And together, they would have definitely put some pressure on the ICC.
29:26 And the damage control email from the ICC is… I mean, it's because of the BCCI's pressure on the ICC, we saw them releasing…
29:38 Coming up with that release. Because how often do you see ICC coming with a clarification?
29:44 I have not seen in the last 2-3 World Cups that I have covered.
29:48 Never seen ICC coming up and defending the pitch and making some clarification that eventually it will get better.
29:54 We are trying our best. The groundsmen are doing their best.
29:57 But the very fact that they have admitted there is a problem in the pitch tells that the BCCI is not happy.
30:05 And BCCI or PCB for that matter must have spoken to the ICC that, "See, hey, the pitch is doing a lot.
30:14 It's going to be very… I mean, it might end up injuring our key players.
30:20 The bowlers can be injured. The batters, of course, they have the… the damage still persists.
30:29 The danger still persists. And one of my colleagues in the office, he just made a very valid point.
30:34 Say, if a ball hits the helmet of a batter, they don't take the batter's word.
30:40 They call up a physio who comes up, inspects whether there is actually a concussion or not.
30:48 And here we are, where the ICC is at fault for laying out a pitch which is actually dangerous for the players.
30:57 And still, it wants them to play on that pitch knowing that it might end up injuring them.
31:04 Remember the fact that the Pakistani-paced battery and even the Indian-paced battery has some bowlers who can bowl in excess of 140.
31:12 We have a Bumrah who can easily touch 148 on his day.
31:18 And the Pakistani bowling line-up, if you look at them, every bowler is capable of clicking 150.
31:25 And if a ball on this undulated, uneven bounce pitch is bowled at 150 clicks per hour, you never know what will happen.
31:35 If an injury occurs, who is going to take the blame for that?
31:38 So, obviously, BCCI has raised its concerns. It's not happy.
31:44 And also because of the fact that India, whenever it hosts any tournament at home,
31:52 the teams and the experts from the West and even from Australia, they always try finding fault at the Indian pitches.
32:04 Which are never dangerous. But they are competitive of sorts, keeping the subcontinental style of play into consideration.
32:13 But yet, the English, the Aussies, even the South Africans for that matter, they always seem to have a problem.
32:21 But here, there is a pitch which is actually dangerous for the game, for the players.
32:27 And there is hardly any word. I mean, we have not heard the Aussies uttering a single word.
32:34 Remember the Dharamshala pitch, Dada? A lot was being talked about.
32:39 This is a dangerous one. The outfield is bad. But not a single Aussie media, the English media has complained about or talked about the New York pitch.
32:48 So, that double standard still persists within the ICC, within the cricketing spectrum and the media.
32:55 And when India and Pakistan seem to raise it, they always try to brush it under the carpet.
33:03 They do, actually. Salutee, when we talk about this kind of pitch, unfit pitches, if it was in Asia, I think the match would have been called off.
33:15 I am sure about it. But your thoughts about other teams? We know Pakistan and India will discuss at length.
33:20 We have, from the match preview, today we are giving an overlook of all the teams.
33:29 What we have seen them, how we have seen them. How do you look at South Africa as a team?
33:34 I mean, they have a lot of good players. We know we have seen them in action during IPL.
33:40 Your thoughts on how South Africa is shaping up? Because they are playing against the Netherlands today.
33:45 So, how do you see that team coming up?
33:48 You can see South Africa has always had a great squad, great players.
33:54 But at the end of the day, there is just one match away from a disaster.
33:59 We have seen that over the years. If you remember, in the 2007 T20 World Cup, they just lost one match.
34:10 That was against India, which was very crucial for us to qualify for the semi-final as well.
34:15 In the match, India scored a very small amount of run and then defended it perfectly.
34:20 Dinesh Kartik took that excellent catch on the left-hand side.
34:23 They just lost one match and then they were eliminated.
34:26 So, they are just like the ultimate with the 'Panoti Luck' in T20 World Cup or ICC events.
34:34 But yet, they do have a great squad this time. I won't say they have an extremely talented squad.
34:42 But they do have players who can be the match-winners.
34:45 Kageshwara Bada, with the ball. Even Keshav Maharaj, Tabrez, Samsee.
34:50 In the batting, they have Klass and Mark Brown. They do have a decent squad.
34:54 But you never know with the South Africa side.
34:56 But I would say that, comparing to South Africa and if you compare with Afghanistan,
35:01 I will say Afghanistan has a better chance of doing better than South Africa in this tournament.
35:08 They do have a lot more holistic squad. And they do have players who can come up and perform at the crunch time.
35:16 But we haven't seen from the South African players over the years.
35:19 And I really doubt. I will be very happy if I am proved wrong.
35:22 If they really do well. Because the world wants South Africa to do well.
35:26 Because they have been one of the best players. Very well-behaved. Very good players.
35:33 But they haven't got anything in their trophy cabinet in terms of ICC trophies so far.
35:37 But I really doubt that South Africa will be going all the way.
35:41 But yeah, I expect them to do well.
35:43 Let them build a good team. We will wait for them. Because this time, it's going to be ours.
35:50 Shakya, your closing thoughts?
35:52 Yeah, so, a very good point made by Shourabhi.
36:01 About Afghanistan having a more holistic side. And actually, with South Africa, just a general point about all teams.
36:12 I think everyone was saying that there is no place for an anchor in T20 cricket.
36:17 But in this so far, whatever we have seen in this World Cup, you probably do need an anchor.
36:23 And I think South Africa's team does not have...
36:26 The South African team may be lacking an anchor kind of a batter in their top 5.
36:36 And Afghanistan actually has greater depth, has a more holistic side with them.
36:44 So, even Australia for that matter. I think Australia also lacks an anchor in their top 5.
36:54 They have not picked Steve Smith. I don't know how Steve Smith makes it into the T20 side.
36:58 But I actually won't be surprised if Afghanistan springs a surprise.
37:05 They have already beaten New Zealand today.
37:07 And let's see how they go. But yeah, let's see how the tournament builds up.
37:13 I think we will get to know in the USA and in the West Indies if India has chosen the right set of players for this tournament.
37:25 And I think it's still open. I think it's early days but it's still open.
37:29 I think tomorrow's match against Pakistan, the whole country has got its eyes on it.
37:35 But also, from the perspective of qualification for the further stage and how we are placed, I think it's an important match as well.
37:42 But you talk about not having an anchor. I think Pitch Backer will always have an anchor.
37:49 Be it Avinash or Indranil Basu or Chaudhary. We have several anchors on this show.
37:56 But thanks a lot, gentlemen. We hope that we get a good start tomorrow.
38:00 And our eyes are always on Team India. How they fare.
38:03 We want them to win and we want to do that in a systematic way.
38:07 They have been going really strong. We have seen them in league matches.
38:10 They have been absolutely quiet. Their approach has been quite clear.
38:16 I mean, they are very much performance-oriented. They know what they are doing. They have a clear idea.
38:21 But when it comes to the knockout matches, that's where our problem lies.
38:25 Thanks Avinash, Arudhip, Chakya for coming on.
38:28 Pitch battle is going to continue because World Cup has just gone.
38:33 A lot of drama has yet to be unfolded and we will wait for it.
38:37 We will be back tomorrow. Please take care of yourselves and enjoy the 2020 World Cup.
38:41 Thanks for watching.
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