India batting coach Vikram Rathore looking to super 8's after India Ireland washed out

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India batting coach Vikram Rathore looking to super 8's after India Ireland washed out   15.06.2024  Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill

Transcript

00:00How do you feel about the Super 8 match?

00:22Of course disappointing.

00:24For fans, yes. But even for a team, we were really looking forward to play a game.

00:30We were expecting better conditions, batting conditions, than what we got in New Zealand.

00:35So as a team, I think it was important for us to get a game.

00:39But again, something that we can't control, we don't control.

00:42So it's unfortunate that we couldn't get a game here.

00:46Vikram, obviously the team missed having a good batting game time.

00:52But are you also relieved that given the conditions, there may be some chances of injury?

00:57So are you also relieved that the match did not happen?

01:00Of course, that concern is always there when you play on the conditions which are not ideal.

01:07So the decision to play or not to play was with the match officials.

01:11So as a team, we didn't have any say in that.

01:14But if the game had happened, that would have really helped us.

01:17We were really looking forward to play a game, to play a good game of cricket.

01:21There's always a concern when you play in conditions like these that some injury can happen.

01:26You're already in Super 8 and you don't want that to happen.

01:29That's the last thing you want to happen before you enter the serious part of the tournament.

01:35Some reserve players are being released. What's the reason for that?

01:41This was the plan from the beginning.

01:43When we come to the US, four players will come together.

01:47Two will be released and two will travel with us to the West Indies.

01:51So that plan was already there.

01:53It was there since the team was selected.

01:56So we're just following that.

01:58Vikram, you've been here in Fort Lauderdale for a while.

02:02And you must have seen since yesterday, apart from that 120-minute shower, there's hardly been any rain.

02:10At the World Cup, would you expect a better ground to be ready for play?

02:16Or what do you think of it as a support staff of a team?

02:20As I said earlier, as a team we wanted to play.

02:23You're right, when you're in a tournament like the World Cup, you want to carry on playing cricket.

02:28As a team, you don't want to lose the momentum that you've gained.

02:31But again, I don't know whether it rained here or not.

02:35The place we were staying at, it didn't really rain yesterday.

02:38So again, not for me to say how and what happened.

02:43But it's disappointing that we couldn't get it.

02:46Vikram, before three matches in five days in three different islands at the Super 8 stage,

02:52now you have an enforced week between your last league match and the Super 8 match.

02:58Is that a good thing in terms of becoming fresh for the challenges that lie ahead?

03:03Or would you like to have continued the momentum of playing and winning?

03:06Again, not ideal. I mean, it would have been great if we could have gotten a game today.

03:11But now this is what it is.

03:13So we'll look forward to having a couple of good practice days in Barbados and get into the game.

03:18So again, now the matches will happen simultaneously after one day.

03:22So as a team, I think we're ready.

03:25We are used to these kind of schedules.

03:27We've done it in the past.

03:29I'm sure we'll do it really well this time as well.

03:41Vikram bhai, obviously, the fact that a few months ago,

03:45when the 50 Overs World Cup happened,

03:47there was an arrangement to cover the full ground in a lot of venues.

03:50But we didn't get to see it here.

03:52Obviously, that makeshift arrangement in New York,

03:55where there was a lot of controversy about the wickets and the outfield.

03:58Even here, the ground wasn't fully covered.

04:00Although, if it was, the match could have been played.

04:03So do you think this is somewhat uncalled for?

04:07I think the ICC should be asking this question.

04:10I won't be able to answer that.

04:12I don't know the reason why it was not covered

04:14and why we didn't have enough covers to cover the whole ground.

04:17If we did, definitely that would have helped.

04:19But now it's not there and this is what we've got.

04:22So I can't really answer that, actually.

04:25Vikram bhai, in the three matches that took place in New York,

04:28you got to see a tough test of the batsmen.

04:32As a batting coach, how good do you think that is?

04:35Because there's going to be a big section of the World Cup.

04:39Before that, there was a good test.

04:41What do you think about that?

04:43Yes, it's good.

04:45Again, you should be able to play on all kinds of wickets.

04:47We have the skills to play in all kinds of conditions and do well.

04:51So the difficult wickets are over.

04:53Hopefully, we'll get good wickets in the tournament.

04:56And even if we get turning wickets or low-scoring games,

04:59our team is equipped to deal with that.

05:02I think our balance is very good in the team at this time.

05:05All the batters are batting well.

05:07Bowlers are bowling really well.

05:09We have four spin options.

05:11We have enough fast bowlers as well.

05:13So, whatever the conditions are, I think we're really equipped to deal with that.

05:17Vikram, going forward from that,

05:20this four-all-rounder theory, is it cast in stone?

05:24Or could there be some changes if the condition demands going forward?

05:29Again, we need to be a flexible team.

05:31We need to look at the conditions that are in front of us

05:34and be ready to deal with those.

05:36So, as a team, we are going to be really flexible, I think.

05:39We'll react the way what we get on the day.

05:43We have enough resources in our team

05:47to deal with any kind of conditions.

05:51Vikram, you spent a long time in New York,

05:55not only playing multiple matches,

05:58but also getting a chance to experience the city

06:01and connecting with the NRI community in New York,

06:04at the stadium and around.

06:06Obviously, your time in Florida has been a little strange.

06:09But did you get...

06:11And there are many thousands of fans who came to watch you here

06:14and didn't get to watch.

06:15Did you get any chance to connect with the community here?

06:18And what was that experience like?

06:20Not really, actually.

06:21Hardly any opportunity to connect with anybody

06:24because it has been raining, actually.

06:26And this was the only place we could have expressed ourselves as a team.

06:30But that, unfortunately, hasn't happened.

06:33So, unfortunately, I think it must be really disappointing

06:36for the people in this city and this place

06:39who are looking forward to see some good cricket.

06:42But as a team, we really didn't get any opportunity

06:45to connect with anybody, actually.

06:47Vikram, are you concerned about Kohli's scores here

06:50or is it something to do with the wickets that we were playing on?

06:54I love it when every time I come,

06:56there's a question about Virat Kohli,

06:58whether he's doing well or not.

07:00No concern at all.

07:03He's been batting superbly from the tournament that he came from.

07:07A couple of dismissals here doesn't change anything.

07:11He's batting really well.

07:13Actually, it's good that he's a little hungrier.

07:15He's really keen to do well and really switched on.

07:19So, it's a good space to be as a batsman, I think.

07:22So, looking forward to some good games

07:26and having watched some good innings from him.

07:33Thank you.

07:34Thank you.

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