T20 World Cup 2024: Team India Unhappy with Training Facilities in USA, Call it 'Average' - Report

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The Indian cricket team commenced its preparations for the T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA on Wednesday. Following the disappointment of losing the 2023 ODI World Cup final to Australia in Ahmedabad, the upcoming T20 World Cup represents a significant opportunity for Rohit Sharma and his squad to seek redemption.

India, having won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, has struggled to secure another ICC trophy since their 2013 Champions Trophy victory under MS Dhoni's captaincy.

However, a report by News18 has revealed that the Indian team is dissatisfied with the training facilities in the USA, specifically at Cantiague Park in Nassau County, where they are currently practising.

The report indicates that the makeshift nature of the training pitches and other facilities has raised concerns within the team. "Everything is makeshift - from pitches to other facilities. Safe to say everything is very average in nature.

The team has raised their concerns," the report quotes a source as saying. The report further mentions that head coach Rahul Dravid has expressed his dissatisfaction with the subpar facilities.

The Indian team management has reportedly contacted the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the issue. In response, the ICC stated, "There has been no complaint or concern expressed regarding the practice facilities at Cantiague Park by any team."

The Indian team, excluding Virat Kohli, who took a break after RCB's exit from the IPL, began their morning training sessions to adjust to the 10.30 AM start times for their preliminary matches. Kohli is expected to rejoin the squad by Friday, though it remains uncertain if he will participate in the warm-up game against Bangladesh on Saturday due to the long flight.

The shift from playing predominantly night matches in India to morning games in the USA presents a unique challenge. The Indian team is focusing on acclimatizing to the morning conditions, which feature temperatures between 25 to 27 degrees Celsius with low humidity. The players, still adjusting to the time difference, are also preparing to handle the white kookaburra ball in slightly windy conditions.

The support staff has prioritized helping the players adapt to these new conditions before commencing intensive skills training on the practice pitches. The goal is to ensure the team is fully prepared to tackle the challenges of the T20 World Cup and hopefully end their long ICC trophy drought.