India captain Rohit Sharma took a nasty hit on his hand during a training session in New York on Friday. However, the seasoned veteran brushed off the injury and batted, much to the relief of his teammates, support staff, and Indian fans. Despite the painful blow, Sharma appeared focused as he prepared for India’s highly anticipated T20 World Cup 2024 clash against Pakistan at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium in New York.
During a practice session in New York, a ball from one of India’s throwdown specialists struck Sharma on his fingers after taking an unexpected bounce off the pitch. The Indian physios attended Rohit on the training ground, However, Rohit was able to resume batting.
This was the second incident for the Hitman, who was struck on his hand near the biceps during India’s opening match against Ireland in New York. Despite hitting a match-winning fifty, Rohit was forced to retire hurt. He downplayed the injury, saying he just felt a bit sore, but he opted to leave the pitch as a precautionary measure.
The Nassau County Cricket Stadium pitch has faced scrutiny due to the uneven bounce in recent matches. Deliveries pitching on a good length have unpredictably taken off, posing challenges for the batters. Notably, Indian players Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant sustained blows against Ireland.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan criticized the pitch at the newly constructed 34,000-seat stadium in New York, deeming it unfit for international cricket.
ICC released a statement on Friday addressing the pitch issues in New York and pledged to improve the surfaces for the next matches.
“T20 Inc and the ICC acknowledge that the pitches at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium have not performed as desired. However, the world-class grounds crew has been working diligently since yesterday’s match to address the issue and ensure the best possible playing surfaces for the remaining fixtures,” stated the ICC.