Former India cricketer Suresh Raina is hopeful of a positive result for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, which is slated to begin on June 2. Ahead of that, ten Indian cricketers are slated to leave India for the USA soon to get adjusted to the pitch and conditions.
Skipper Rohit Sharma and senior cricketers Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah are already eliminated from the ongoing IPL 2024 along with Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Shivam Dube, Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel. All ten cricketers are slated to leave India later in the week and as per Raina, it’s a very important move.
The 37-year-old noted that the conditions in the USA are very different and players should take some time to get used to it. He stated that the matches will take place in the morning and since the tournament will be played on drop-in pitches and he believes that it’s important for the players to get used to that, as they don’t have enough experience of playing in such conditions. While analysing India’s squad ahead of the mega tournament, he remarked that the squad seemed quite balanced and highlighted that Kohli and a few others are in good form, so he expects good things.
“Matches there are at 10:00 AM in the morning. The wickets are also drop-in. The team should get used to these wickets and conditions as soon as possible,” Raina said in a media interaction.
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“The team is balanced. Rohit Sharma is the captain. Virat Kohli is in fine form and Suryakumar Yadav is in good touch. Two left-arm pacers are going, who can bowl in powerplay. Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are going,” Raina added.
Temporary form doesn’t make someone bad: Raina
Hardik Pandya’s form is a thing to worry about. He made his return from injury in the IPL but couldn’t make a significant mark in the tournament. However, Raina isn’t concerned about that and reminded that form is temporary and Pandya has the class to return back to his best in the T20 World Cup.
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“He has done really well (for India). Temporary poor form does not make someone bad. When he will perform well against Pakistan in the World Cup, everyone will praise him,” Raina said.