The upcoming T20 World Cup match between India and the USA is generating significant buzz as both teams vie for a spot in the Super Eight stage. Experts are weighing in on the anticipated showdown, analyzing strategies and player performances. The pitch battle promises an exciting clash between two cricketing nations with different levels of experience and skill. Cricket enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the outcome of this crucial match that will determine each team's journey in the tournament.
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#IndiaVsUSA #T20WorldCup #RohitSharma #ViratKohli #RishabhPant #SuryaKumarYadav #SuperEight #CricketBattle #SportsNews #ExpertsSpeak #PitchBattle #TeamIndia #TeamUSA #CricketMatch #T20Cricket #WorldCup2024 #CricketContest #SportsAnalysis #ExcitingMatch
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NewsTranscript
00:00Hello and welcome to yet another episode of Pitch Battle.
00:08Today we are going to talk about the India and USA match in the Group A T20 World Cup
00:14in New York.
00:15Actually, the India are playing their third game at this venue and host USA.
00:21They are up wheat with the back-to-back wins and they will be eyeing a good show against
00:26the mighty Indians and a good show in terms of performance.
00:31Even if they end up losing the match, they will have a lot of positives to take from
00:35this match.
00:36But we should not forget the way they played against Pakistan, the way they batted against
00:42Pakistan, the way they defended the total against Pakistan in the Super Over.
00:47It all proves that this is a side which cannot be taken lightly and Team India is not going
00:53to take them lightly like Team Pakistan did.
00:56Good news for Pakistan is that they have also tasted the first win of the tournament.
01:02They defeated Canada quite convincingly and they are still in the hunt for the Super 8
01:10stages.
01:11But a lot would depend on India-US match because if US end up losing tonight or if they stun
01:18India and win this game, they are through to the next stage and Pakistan will all be
01:24but out of the competition.
01:26But before we speak more, talk about it in detail, let me introduce you to the panelists,
01:34the guests that I have today.
01:35I am being joined by Nilda Basu, our sports expert.
01:40Then I am joined by my colleague Sauradeep and Gaurav.
01:45Both are having a very keen interest on not just cricket but other sports as well.
01:51But today, because it's a World Cup season, we will keep our entire conversation focused
01:59to cricket, especially Indian cricket.
02:02So Dada, just in terms of the gravity of this match if we speak about, how big is it a contest
02:09for an associate nation like USA?
02:13It's quite big for them.
02:16But for us, it's like a battle which we can't take it for granted that we have already won.
02:23Because after beating Pakistan, we are supposed to win all the games.
02:26And we are supposed to do well in every league game we play.
02:30And we have been doing that for last 10 years, for more than a decade.
02:35So I am not worried.
02:36The only worry is those knockout matches where we don't play as a team.
02:41So that's the main worry.
02:42I mean, playing US, Canada, bring it on. No problem.
02:47The entire entourage of Indian cricketers are ready.
02:50But the main problem lies is that we don't perform as a team in knockout matches.
02:55You have seen it.
02:56In the World Cup last year, at home, we had the best chance to win the World Cup.
03:01We lost it because we didn't play as a team.
03:04We tampered with the pitch.
03:06We did a lot of things.
03:07So just focus on the game and think about the knockout matches.
03:11That's been our… You know those… What you get on your body? Infection inside your body.
03:19Rashes.
03:20Yeah.
03:21We are allergic.
03:22We are allergic.
03:23Like, I am allergic to seafood.
03:25So Indian team is allergic to knockout matches.
03:27So we will talk about how we are as a team in the knockout matches.
03:32World Cup has not begun at all.
03:34I mean, Pakistan… Of course, match was important.
03:36We won it.
03:37But effortlessly, we won it.
03:39Because Pakistan even lost to US.
03:40Now US is playing against us.
03:42They will come up tall, charged up.
03:44But I think our main battle will start from Super 8.
03:47Probably, the knockout matches when it starts.
03:50Exactly.
03:51The main battle will begin next week onwards.
03:55And if you look at the engagement stuff, people are not talking a lot.
04:02Because they are also, in a way, convinced that the big teams are going to qualify to the next stage.
04:09The Super 8 stage.
04:10And the real action will begin in the West Indies.
04:13The Caribbean.
04:14Where the bandwagon will shift after the group stages are done and dusted.
04:18It's a big tournament.
04:21At least a month long tournament.
04:23And a wear and tear of sorts also happens with players.
04:28But the good thing with the Indian team is that everybody is completely fit.
04:34And looking at the performance in the previous game, they ticked all the boxes.
04:41Yes, batting still remains a concern.
04:44On this kind of a pitch, we saw how Bangladesh and South Africa game panned out.
04:51Yesterday also we saw, last night we saw what Pakistan and Canada match, how it panned out, how it happened.
04:57So, a lot is being talked about this pitch.
05:00But what kind of pitch are we going to expect today?
05:03I mean, it's going to be a used pitch or a fresh one.
05:11I think it's going to be more of the same.
05:13Because I am just quite surprised that I think the practice match against Bangladesh was played at the same venue as well.
05:19So, I don't know what happened to that pitch.
05:21Because India scored like 190 runs in that match.
05:24And after that, all we have seen is, the bowlers have completely dominated.
05:28So, I don't know what has happened to that pitch.
05:32But hopefully, we are going to get some kind of a better one.
05:36But we have seen the pitch has been doing a bit better than it was doing in the very first match between Sri Lanka and South Africa.
05:43So, I think it will be more of the same.
05:45But India will have to be really worried about USA.
05:48Because although we know that USA are minnows and it's not that they have already beaten Pakistan.
05:54But they have quite decent players.
05:56These are not movies players.
05:58Like Saurabh Netravalkar who has played for India in the 19 World Cup.
06:01Corey Anderson for likes.
06:03They are good players. So, I think they will have to be worried.
06:05And they can't get complacent.
06:07And I believe the pitch will be more of the same today.
06:12Yes, one expects the pitch to behave at least the same.
06:15I mean, if it sticks to the same property it has been showing in the last few games,
06:20then it's going to be a challenging one.
06:23Another challenging task for the batters.
06:26Especially the Indian batting line-up is going to be in the spotlight, Gaurav.
06:30Because the way we batted in the last match against Pakistan.
06:33Yes, the bowling line-up of Pakistan is far more experienced, far more potent.
06:39But India, we saw in the second half of the Indian innings, they just gave up.
06:44I mean, nobody rose to the occasion.
06:46It was not a 160, even a 160-170 pitch.
06:51But had Indian batters just dug a little deeper, they would have easily reached to 140-145.
07:02Yes, even I was surprised.
07:04The way they batted.
07:06It was like, you go, I'll come.
07:08I was literally surprised. What was going on there?
07:11Nobody was willing to stay at the wicket.
07:15When you have lost a wicket, the next batter should at least spend some minutes on the pitch.
07:23Then, you have all the arrows in your bow. You can hit any time. Come on.
07:29I was not expecting this from Puray Kumar Yadav, from Hardik Mehnda.
07:33They would have batted a little longer.
07:35They could have easily scored 150-plus runs.
07:41Dada has something.
07:44Dada looks, I mean, he is amused.
07:47Some joke has just crossed his mind, I guess.
07:51What is it, Dada, for you?
07:54There is a big smile on your face.
07:56No, no. I am really amazed by the way Rohit Sharma has been defending the Mumbai players for so many years.
08:03So many months, actually.
08:05From the time he has become the captain of…
08:08And Mumbai lobby has got captaincy after a long time.
08:11They have to wait for a long time.
08:12After Sachin, I think, Rohit has become a captain.
08:15So, they are pushing Mumbai players one after the other into the side as if…
08:19I mean, a case like Shivam Dubey.
08:21I mean, look at the way he feels. Look at the way Rinku Singh feels.
08:24Look at the way Shivam Dubey has caused a game-changer with the bat.
08:27And so has Rinku Singh.
08:29But Rinku is not given that kind of advantage to be in that 15-member squad.
08:39And that's because Shivam Dubey can bowl a bit.
08:42But we have never seen him bowl in the IPL matches.
08:44So, everything we see, we hear, there is a lot of contradiction.
08:47In fact, from the time we have started getting and putting that age cap of 60 years for the selectors,
08:55we have been getting very weak selectors.
08:58In fact, for all the viewers, for Gaurav, for Souravdeep and for you, Abhinash,
09:03you would be surprised to know, last year…
09:05Last time we were playing the World Cup 2022, we lost.
09:10And there was a report that selectors will have to reapply.
09:14And everyone wrote saying that Chetan Sharma and company is sacked.
09:18So, I called up people in the board and I found out that they are actually not sacked.
09:23Their contract will be renewed. They will have to reapply.
09:26And that's how Chetan Sharma reapplied and again became the chairman of the selection committee.
09:30Till that controversy happened where he spilled the beans and whatever happened.
09:34He was talking inside stuff about Indian cricket to a non-entity.
09:38So, that time, I remember one of the top board officials telling me
09:43that what's the point of sacking the selectors?
09:46There is a question of sacking the selectors.
09:48Because the selection is entirely done by the team management.
09:51The coach, the captain.
09:52So, this has been the tradition of Team India for a long time.
09:56From the time Virat Kohli took over, he was so powerful.
09:58I mean, what is Virat Kohli…
10:00What is MSK Prasad in front of Virat Kohli? Tell me.
10:04And this is what the bane has been.
10:06This is… From the time we have had weak selectors,
10:10we have not performed well in ICC events.
10:12I don't know when it will happen.
10:14I remember Rajit Agarkar as a player.
10:16I mean, come to think of it, when Rajit Agarkar was playing cricket,
10:21did any one of us imagine that Rajit Agarkar
10:24will one day become the chairman of the selection committee?
10:27I mean, just touch your heart and tell me that.
10:29I mean, I can tell you none would have thought that way.
10:33But this is how cricket is moving.
10:35So, that cap is actually hampering Indian cricket.
10:37If someone is good, so be it.
10:40I mean, he is good.
10:41Age should not be counted.
10:44Age is just a number.
10:46And look at MS Dhoni, playing 40-plus.
10:48He is still playing IPL.
10:50If that knee thing was not there,
10:52he would have been probably playing World Cup also.
10:54So, age… I mean, why are we obsessed with age?
10:57There was a time when if you are 30-plus, you don't get a role.
11:00You only get character role in Bollywood.
11:02But the actors, actresses have started getting…
11:05When they are 30-plus, 40-plus, still they are getting big roles in Bollywood movies.
11:09So, life is not about age.
11:11It's about mileage, which is important.
11:14Yeah, the mileage is very important.
11:16Gaurav, I am coming to you.
11:18As Radha just pointed out about Rinku Singh,
11:22we saw what happened in the match against Pakistan.
11:25There were visuals of him standing in the stands.
11:28I mean, he looked just sad and petrified.
11:32And one could just… I mean, could read his body language.
11:36It all said that, had I been there, things would have been a little different.
11:42Actually, being a player, you always want to play against Pakistan.
11:47And in such a crucial situation, he must be feeling that,
11:51okay, please, let me just go and bat there.
11:54He just wanted to bat down the order.
11:58Because no one was scoring at that time.
12:01And he must have been feeling like that,
12:05I should go in the pitch and score some runs.
12:08My team needs me here.
12:10So, that was a feeling of a true Indian player and cricket fan.
12:14Okay. Yes, exactly.
12:16I mean, we saw the social media getting a buzz
12:20because Suri Kumar Yadav and Shivam Dubey, both of them failed to make a mark.
12:24And the troll factory, once again, was at its best during the match.
12:29Because India crumbled in the collapse that we have been watching
12:34pretty often in crunch matches.
12:36I mean, if you look at the last India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match,
12:40there too, we saw a batting collapse at the top.
12:43But here, it was a middle-order and lower-order batting collapse.
12:46Though, the top-order also didn't fire any big runs against Pakistan this time.
12:53But, Souravdeep, we are playing a relatively weak opponent today.
12:59And do you think there's going to be any change in the playing XI?
13:05Because Yashaswi Jaiswal, there's a lot of talk about him being brought into the side.
13:11And in place of Shivam Dubey, maybe.
13:15But, once Yashaswi Jaiswal comes into playing XI,
13:19that also means that he's going to open the innings.
13:22And also, that brings me to the second question.
13:25Virat Kohli's numbers as an opener are not that great.
13:29But his numbers as a number 3 backer are phenomenal.
13:33Even in the T20 eyes, can this change be made today?
13:38A pitch where you know it's going to do a bit differently.
13:41Which might be a tricky one to just solve.
13:45I think there needs to be a couple of changes.
13:49Because I think Yashaswi Jaiswal comes in for Shivam Dubey.
13:53And also, I would bring in someone like Yadav for Rabindra Jadeja.
13:57But I really doubt whether they will make any changes.
14:00Because they just want to stick to the winning team.
14:04Because if something goes wrong, then maybe the question is pointing out.
14:09Why did you make the change?
14:10But yeah, you're absolutely right on the Virat Kohli thing.
14:12I think Virat Kohli coming in at number 3 makes sense.
14:16From various point of views, I think.
14:20Because you have Yashaswi coming to open the batting with Rohit Sharma.
14:25You get a left and right hand combination.
14:27And with Virat Kohli, someone who has monumental experience and a class batter.
14:32He is supposed to bat at number 3 where he has been batting and scoring a lot of runs in this format.
14:37In any formats of such.
14:38So, I do believe that makes sense.
14:40But I really doubt whether they will make these changes.
14:43Maybe they will just want to ensure qualification in this match.
14:46And then make the change in the next match against Canada, I think.
14:50Okay.
14:51Dada, do you think Virat could be a better batter at number 3?
14:58If Yashaswi Jaiswal is not brought into the playing 11.
15:03Can Rishabh Pant be the opening option for India?
15:06The left and right hand combination.
15:08The problem also gets sorted.
15:10Rohit and Rishabh might be able to complement each other much better than Virat and Rohit are doing.
15:19And also, Ashit Ankur kind of a performance from Virat can assure India that he will bail you out of tricky situations.
15:29If the top 2 are unable to perform.
15:33Not in just this match. In fact, in the coming games.
15:36Virat always wanted to open the innings.
15:40But he couldn't do it because of KL Daul.
15:42As a captain also, he tried.
15:43Then Ujj sort of convinced him.
15:45What will we do with KL Daul? He can't back down the order.
15:48But then, Virat being not exactly a huge 6-hitter like Rohit Sharma or Rishabh Pant or Hardik Pandya.
15:57I mean, what is his role after 6th over?
16:02After the first power play in a T20 game?
16:07Because he might slow it down.
16:09He has got that big ego. He is a big batsman.
16:11What happens is, one or two overs when the bowlers are doing fine over there in a T20 game.
16:17And Virat doesn't give away his wicket. He just slows down.
16:20And that gives an advantage to the opponent batsman because of his ego.
16:23Because Virat Kohli, I mean, I can't get out. He does throw his wicket.
16:27What we have seen in the past, when the batsman is unable to connect, he generally would throw the wicket and move on.
16:32Give others an opportunity. Virat has never been like that.
16:35Because he is a big match player. He has got that ego inside him.
16:38So, looking at the conditions, he could be a perfect recipe to come down the order.
16:43But after so many years of willingness to open the innings, he has finally got a chance.
16:50I don't think he is going to give it away.
16:52He has unfortunately got out. In fact, his Pakistan, he started off in a very steady fashion at cover-drive.
16:57He smashed against Naseem Shah.
17:02But the mode of dismissal, Dada, it's more or less the same.
17:07I mean, both of us are expansive, right? And perishes.
17:12Yeah, yeah. Absolutely. And what Sauradip is saying, he carries a lot of sense.
17:18And better than what I have seen from outside, he is making a lot of sense that why not?
17:24Because you need a crafter. You need someone who can go in there and build innings.
17:28Because bowlers are making many. So, why not bring down Virat Kohli?
17:33He is a stabilizer. Whatever form you say.
17:37He still has that hunger, that appetite to work and score.
17:42So, that's something the Indian team could use. Because you know for sure, power hitting won't work.
17:48You have seen Shivam Dubey struggling. You have seen Surya Kumar Yadav.
17:54The ball is not coming to the bat. They are all used to the Mumbai bounce.
17:57The ball comes and they hit, use the pace of the bowler.
18:00There is no pace from the bowlers, actually. The wicket is slowing down.
18:04There is a tennis ball bounce, kind of what we get in England.
18:08So, all put together, it makes sense. And you have to change.
18:11You know, horses for courses. If you can do that, you have to be flexible.
18:15We are not saying change the combination. And you rightly pointed out, why not?
18:19Get a punt as an opener. Why not? Bring in some firepower and bring some stability in the middle order by pushing Virat down.
18:25So, it's just about manoeuvring a little with your resources.
18:29We are not saying bring in justice. We don't have a knee-jerk reaction.
18:33Because Dubey hasn't scored. Because it's a two-matches.
18:37Let's not behave like that. But we can obviously manoeuvre a little bit.
18:42And like they did last time, they pushed Aditya Pandya so much so that he ran out of partner.
18:48So, I think a little bit of mental application is important.
18:54But problem is, that word in Hindi, dheet hai.
18:57Kaptaan hamara bada dheet hai, which is Rohit Sharma.
19:00What he thinks right, he is going to do it no matter what.
19:03And now, Virat Kohli has also become an yes-man. Because he is playing under Rohit.
19:08So, whatever Rohit has got into the Indian team, you know that.
19:11There was a sort of undercurrent, the not-to-take Virat, into Virat in the T20 team.
19:17Rohit was the one, reportedly. We are not saying that.
19:19Reportedly, Rohit backed him and said, I want Virat.
19:22And Rohit was asked, I remember sources told me that, Rohit was asked, why Virat?
19:26He said, there is no one like Virat over there, in that position.
19:29So, Rohit and Virat were not greatest of friends and have become greatest of friends right now.
19:35So, how the equation changes. But you have to use these equations to benefit India.
19:40Enough of these milestone-making innings. We need India to win.
19:45We don't want league match win only. We need India to win. We need India to win trophies.
19:51And that's why Shahrukh, Gaurav, you, me, everyone is sitting there and discussing.
19:56We are not just… I don't look like a Shahrukh Khan that I have to show my face and come and talk on one India.
20:02We seriously feel we have to voice our opinion and tell the world, this is right and this is wrong.
20:11Cricket can't be locked in one room, right?
20:13When you do that, you are going nowhere.
20:17And the ICC has taken a very bold call by unlocking it to a wider audience.
20:22We have seen the US is a big market and not just the US.
20:29In fact, if US starts following the suit and they start investing, not just the cricket administration of the US.
20:36If the audience start investing themselves into the sport, there is no stopping and sky is the limit for cricket to grow.
20:44Not just the US market, maybe the entire North America and the Latin America market.
20:50So, I think that is the thought process behind the ICC, taking it to the US, catering it to a newer audience.
20:58Will it bear fruits or not? Only time will tell.
21:03But so far, we have seen the stadium are more or less empty when India and the Asian nations are not playing.
21:11There was hardly 25-30% occupancy in the Australia vs. Namibia match.
21:20Even the Aussies are not very... I mean, they are the title favorites this time around.
21:26And still, they are failing to draw much of crowd to the stadium.
21:32And this is also a concern, Gaurav.
21:35Because in a T20 match, with the IPL, CPLs, PSLs, we are sort of very habitual of watching a packed stadium.
21:49Which is not happening at the moment except for India, Bangladesh and Pakistan match.
21:56See, Avinash, we have to understand this thing that it is just the beginning in the US.
22:03So, if we are getting 25% or 30% crowd, we should be happy with that thing.
22:08No, I just mentioned about the West Indies. Even the West Indies venues, if you look at them,
22:14the first match that West Indies played at home, there were hardly any crowd.
22:19And it started from there only.
22:21And today also, I just mentioned about the Namibia vs US game.
22:25There was hardly any crowd. It was happening in the evening, peak hours, the local time.
22:31And yet, nobody was there. Literally, nobody was there to watch the game.
22:36Because cricket crazies are in Asia more, I would say.
22:41Asian countries are playing cricket for a really long time.
22:46And West Indies, of course, they have been the solvers.
22:50But I personally believe that people in USA and West Indies are more into other games also.
23:00So, cricket is growing in the US right now. Let it be happen.
23:05We have to allow some time and we will see the same result.
23:09What we have been seeing in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka.
23:13Cricket crazies will find a place in stadiums really soon.
23:17I am telling you this thing.
23:19I am damn confident that, of course, participation of US and other boards,
23:26which we have with players, like the countries that haven't been the part of the mainstream cricket yet.
23:33It will benefit the sport. Surely, it will benefit the sport.
23:37And we just need some time. We have to give some time to them also.
23:42I saw some memes that people of USA are able to even understand the sport or not.
23:49They are more into baseball or basketball or other sports.
23:53Let them see how this crazy cricket thing goes.
23:58Let them understand why people of Asian countries are so crazy about cricket.
24:04Like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka. People are crazy here.
24:10But not in overseas. I haven't seen such fans like that.
24:15So, let them allow some time.
24:20And I am sure that these games, the high-voltage games, will bring crowd to the stadium.
24:31Dada, you have travelled a lot.
24:34You have seen the cricket from different corners of the world.
24:37You have seen how the Australian media and the crowd behaves.
24:42The English, South Africans.
24:44What are your thoughts on the popularity of this particular sport in the US market?
24:52Is the ICC going to get the benefits in the next 2-3 years?
24:58Let's not forget that the Los Angeles Olympics, which will be held in 2028, will feature cricket there.
25:05I mean, there is no doubt that cricket is getting popularized.
25:11And going to the US market was always there.
25:13Remember, when TV rights used to get sold in VCCI, they used to earmark areas.
25:19And US was always the biggest market after Asia.
25:22No one is bigger than Australia also.
25:25So many Indians have settled there.
25:28Everyone, you must be having friends there, settled.
25:31I am sure Gaurav has friends.
25:33Sharadiv has friends.
25:34I have friends.
25:35So, every third or fourth member of a family is settled in the US.
25:41So, you can imagine the situation is just the same from other countries, other desperate nations.
25:48A lot of Australians are settled in the US.
25:51I mean, the way people travel for work, they stay there.
25:56So, I think the US market was always quite vibrant.
25:59But here, they have got a lovely sort of push by having tournaments.
26:04And they have those major leagues coming up.
26:06I know so many CEOs of different companies.
26:10They are coming forward, having their teams.
26:13I remember in one of the US cities, I think it was, I don't exactly remember the exact name of the city.
26:22Some league was going on, some commentators started taking my name.
26:25And I was shocked that how majorly they follow every bit of Indian cricket.
26:31And cricket is something which unites and beats.
26:34They say you can take a tiger out of the jungle, but you can't take jungle out of the tiger.
26:40So, you can take an Indian out of India, but you can't take cricket out of that Indian.
26:44So, that's how cricket is.
26:47And wherever Indians are going there, Pakistanis, Southeast Asians, Sri Lankans, they go and play cricket.
26:53They don't play.
26:54They take their time.
26:56They have a Sunday.
26:57They have all the time in the world.
26:58Some people think US watching cricket in the US, they think watching cricket is a sheer waste of time.
27:03But in my opinion, it's the ultimate thing.
27:06For me, I love playing cricket even at this age.
27:09Even though I am very young, still trying to get into those major leagues.
27:13Yeah, I mean, I said, why not?
27:18I mean, try.
27:19If Dhoni can play, why can't I?
27:20I am just a few years elder to him.
27:24So, give me a chance.
27:26I mean, it's unfair.
27:28It's unfair.
27:29You can't be treating me like Rinku Singh.
27:31So, I have been trying to use my voice.
27:35So, let's see.
27:36If I am successful, I am ready.
27:38I am match-ready.
27:39And that's important for a cricketer.
27:41Be ready all the time.
27:42Whenever a challenge comes your way, you should be able to deliver.
27:47That's great.
27:48Sauradeep, let's talk about the US team today.
27:52I mean, what would be their feeling?
27:56Because they are going to play against one of the best teams.
27:59And you can say, it's a dream of a lifetime.
28:06In fact, yesterday I saw Aaron Jones speaking and he said he idolizes Virat Kohli as his favorite cricketer.
28:14For obvious reasons.
28:16Because Virat Kohli is someone who has accomplished almost everything on the cricketing pitch
28:23except for winning an ICC trophy as a captain.
28:28But Virat's achievements are just phenomenal.
28:33And how much of you think the US players will be in awe?
28:38Because we have seen players, when it comes to bigger matches,
28:42the lesser-known teams or the minnows,
28:46they tend to just forget that they are competing against these stalwarts and the legends of the game.
28:53Instead, they just get awed.
28:56And the overall factor gets the better of them and they perish.
29:00I think with this USA team, that may not be the case.
29:04Because most of them have played, like Corey Anderson has played international cricket.
29:09Others have had the exposure to cricket as well.
29:12I don't think that will be the case entirely.
29:15And I think USA will be playing fearless cricket.
29:18Because they have nothing to lose.
29:20They are playing against a wealth of great cricketers,
29:23super players that we have in the Indian team like Virat Kohli.
29:27They may have their moments after the match.
29:29But when they are in the 22 yards, I think they will be giving their all to beat India.
29:33Because I think this is a massive moment for these players as well.
29:36The likes of Nitish Kumar.
29:38Nitish Kumar, by the way, has been a very much talked-about person in this country.
29:43For the past one week or so.
29:45And I think the likes of Nostos.
29:47All the other players.
29:49Sourav.
29:50They will be looking to beat India.
29:52Because they have had their dreams of playing for India.
29:55Which didn't happen.
29:57And now they have a chance to play for the US shirt.
30:00They will be eager to fulfil their dream by beating this Indian team.
30:04Although they may be their heroes.
30:06They may idol them outside the field.
30:08But on the field, they will be definitely looking forward to beat them.
30:11I don't think they will be in awe when it comes to the Indian players.
30:16Okay.
30:17Last time we saw Pakistan.
30:20I mean, they won the toss.
30:22And they invited India to bat first.
30:25In a way, they managed to restrict India to a very low total.
30:29So, the reason for bowling first was spot on.
30:34And the bowlers just complimented the captain's decision.
30:37They vindicated him.
30:38Gaurav, what do you think is going to be happening today?
30:44If USA ends up winning the toss, what is it that Captain Monak Patel should be looking to do?
30:51Bat first.
30:52Bowl first.
30:55What I believe is Monak Patel would surely like to bowl first.
30:59Because they would be planning that they can restrict the big team like they did with Pakistan.
31:07And what Pakistan did to India, right?
31:11So, they would be planning the same thing that they can restrict Rohit Sharma and company for a low total.
31:17And then they can chase it.
31:19But here, I would like to add something that Rohit Sharma and company are real stalwarts.
31:27They can bat really well.
31:30Every day is not a sunny day.
31:32They bowled for a low total in the game against Pakistan.
31:35That doesn't mean that today will be a bad day.
31:44But here, I am expecting runs.
31:47Although, the pitch is not that good.
31:51But I am expecting some runs.
31:57And it's good for the popularity of the sport.
32:00If we won't see sixes and fours, the people won't be interested in these matters.
32:06Okay. Well said. Rightly put.
32:09Dada, your thoughts on the pitch.
32:15Whether the toss is going to play a factor tonight or not in this game between completely different sides.
32:27There is a big gap of class and characteristic.
32:34No, it's quite sure.
32:38Toss is playing a factor in a way.
32:41It can drive home some advantage.
32:44But when you are up against a stalwart side like India,
32:50they are really the untouchables.
32:53In league matches, Indian team is the best in the world.
32:57They play as if they have been winning all the tournaments.
33:01But in reality, it's something else.
33:04It's a farce that they win matches in the league stages and lose.
33:07And it's been happening for more than 11 years.
33:10So, I don't have much hope in any which ways.
33:12But still, as an Indian, I want to see India doing well.
33:19I am willing to do anything for cricket.
33:23Our life is for cricket. My life is for cricket.
33:25And I want to see Indian team doing well.
33:27At any cost, if I have to contribute in some way, I will do it.
33:30But when we don't look at the reality,
33:33the reality is that we need to send a good team, a young team.
33:36We need to empower the youngsters.
33:38When will those things happen?
33:40We just can't hold on to two stars, three stars.
33:43We need five stars.
33:45So, that's how you can win a tournament.
33:47It's never that hero worship which is there in India.
33:54That doesn't end.
33:55I remember US players would love to come and play against Virat Kohli and company.
34:00But they can't be fans.
34:02The moment they start becoming fans…
34:04After the game, you can be a fan.
34:06But before the game…
34:08I have heard stories about 2007 when Sri Lanka and Bangladesh players beat India
34:14in the West Indies in that 50-over World Cup.
34:17After the match, they came to get autographs from Sachin and company.
34:20They got really upset.
34:23First, they beat us.
34:25Now, they are making fun of us.
34:27So, we have moved on from there.
34:29We are really aside to wrecking within league matches.
34:31But I am still waiting.
34:33I want to sit back and watch what they do in the knockout matches.
34:38And knockout matches, it's not semi-final.
34:40It's the final.
34:41We have seen it again and again.
34:43Last time when we lost the World Cup,
34:45former Indian coach Ravi Shastri said this was the best chance for India to win a trophy.
34:50Definitely.
34:51I don't know when it will come next.
34:53I have the same opinion.
34:55I don't know when it's going to come next.
34:57Because beating US, Canada, Pakistan…
35:00Whosoever comes in league phase, there is no pressure in that league phase.
35:03Main thing is the knockout matches.
35:06Where it's do or die.
35:08You live or you don't live.
35:10Like that.
35:11So, there you have to do well.
35:13And how well you can do there…
35:15More than as an individual.
35:17You have to go there as a team.
35:19Which has not happened.
35:20And probably that's why we are struggling.
35:22True.
35:23Because India are always one of the favourites to win the tournament of any variety, any format.
35:31And when you just fall short of it at the last gasp,
35:36it is bound to raise questions.
35:40Question your dominance.
35:42And we have seen that happen quite a few times now.
35:47Before we wind up, let's talk about this enigma called Rishabh Pant.
35:53He is something…
35:56A different kettle of fish, he looks like.
35:59The Indian team plays in a certain way.
36:02But Rishabh Pant is playing the way he was playing in that Brisbane…
36:06The iconic Gaba test.
36:08Look at his performance.
36:10He was just going after every bowler on almost every delivery.
36:14That fearless attitude.
36:16And he is a gun-fielder behind the wickets.
36:19The contribution that he made with the catching against Pakistan.
36:24I think it was…
36:26It should be given as a man-of-the-match performance.
36:31I think Rishabh Pant is someone that you have to bet every time.
36:35Because he is someone who can win you matches.
36:37You want match-winners in the team.
36:39And the way he bats, the way his entire body language is…
36:43I think that has to be held after what he went through.
36:46For one and a half years.
36:48So, of course, Rishabh Pant is someone who will play a huge part.
36:52And the Indian team should back him at any cost.
36:55Whether he may get out one day playing some kind of extravagant shot.
36:59But the very next day, he may score 40 out of 20 balls.
37:03I think against Pakistan, when every batter struggled…
37:06He showed that you can score at a strike rate of 130-140.
37:11So, Rishabh Pant is going to play a huge part.
37:14And I think they are going to back him as well.
37:16I think we are going to see Rishabh Pant in every match.
37:19It's going to be difficult for Sanju Samson.
37:22But at this moment, Rishabh is looking like way ahead of the Peking Outer.
37:28That's truly correct.
37:30Because the way Rishabh Pant is performing…
37:32We can also see him as a future captain of the Indian side, Radha.
37:36Because he is someone who is showing the character…
37:39I mean, he is showing the leadership qualities.
37:41The team thinks in a different way, like I pointed out.
37:45And he thinks, no, no, no. We can pull it out.
37:48And we can do the unthinkable.
37:53Are you asking me? Are you?
37:55Yeah.
37:56Okay. I mean, you know, Virat…
37:59After Virat left, as long as Virat was there, there was no captaincy option.
38:04The moment Virat left, we had 7-8 captains for Team India.
38:08And one of them, the most promising was Rishabh Pant.
38:11And KL Rao was also there in the line-up.
38:14And I remember talking to a few of the support staff members.
38:17And they said it clearly.
38:18Whosoever scores runs, would be the captain of India eventually.
38:22But what we have seen here is that Rishabh had to go through that unfortunate accident.
38:28And he has come back strong.
38:30What separates him from the rest of the cricketers is his fearlessness.
38:34He is not scared of getting out.
38:37And that's something which will rub on to the team.
38:40Very, very… Quite infectious, actually.
38:42When you have such confidence level.
38:44And cricket is played on three basic principles.
38:48Which is your hard work, your confidence and your honesty.
38:51And Rishabh has all those elements in plenty of quantity.
38:55So, I am sure Rishabh is going to make lot of difference for India.
38:59If he is made the leader in white ball cricket eventually.
39:01I am looking forward to that.
39:03Because we can't have two white ball captains.
39:05That's what Virat Kohli was told when he wanted to only captain ODI.
39:08And gave T20 captains to Rohit Sharma.
39:11So, if we are looking at one man who can look the man who can take India to the next level.
39:17It's got to be Rishabh Pant.
39:18And we have actually touched the right nerve, Abhinash.
39:22And I am so proud of him.
39:24I am so proud of him.
39:25Well, thank you.
39:27And on that note, let's wrap up this episode of Pitch Battle.
39:32The battle tonight might not be as pitch battle as the US fans are expecting it to be.
39:40Because I believe the Indian team will pull it off pretty decently.
39:45And will take the confidence from here to Florida when they face Canada in their last league game.
39:52But there is a lot of scope for US to just prove what are they made up of.
40:01What are their cricketing credentials.
40:03And against a stalwart team and a giant like India, if they manage to pull off some upset.
40:09It's going to take the US cricket only forward.
40:12Thank you for watching.