IND vs IRE: Rohit Sharma's viral comment on US immigration department ahead of India's T20 World Cup 2024 opener

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IND vs IRE: Cricket is gaining popularity in the United States of America as per India captain Rohit Sharma, who will lead in their first match of the tournament on Wednesday, June 5 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.

To put weight to his opinion, a candid Rohit Sharma said that even the US immigration took just 10 minutes to complete their formalities when they landed at the John F Kennedy International Airport in New York.

The short time taken by the US immigration department was "rare" in the words of Rohit Sharma. The security agency is infamous all over the world for their strict protocols. Biggest celebrities including Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan have been made to wait for hours at the airport.

"We never thought cricket in America will be played at any given stage. But now that we are here, it's a different feeling, right? From the time you arrived in New York, spending only 10 minutes at immigration, which is very rare, doesn't happen," the 37-year-old said when he was asked if the move to stage the T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA would help cricket grow in the USA.

"So you can make out that the buzz is there, even the locals here are quite intrigued by a cricket tournament happening, a world cup happening here, because we go to the cafes and all, there are a lot of locals who come there and wish us the best. We've been to Florida, but this is different. All of us who are playing here will try to leave a mark on this city and the people of the US as well," Rohit Sharma added.

The security forces in New York are also on alert for the India vs Pakistan match on June 9. Looking at the magnitude of the spectators expected for the high-octane clash between the arch-rivals, the police officials are set to deploy the "biggest and tightest" security in the city.