Indian Team (Photo Source: BCCI)
With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season nearly coming to its end, the wait is for the start of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA. Team India finds itself in a crunch situation as reports indicate they will play just a single warm-up match in the lead-up to the marquee ICC event.
The reason behind this tight scheduling is the compact IPL calendar. The cash-rich league’s finals are set for May 26 while India’s T20 World Cup campaign kicks off on June 5 against Ireland in New York. The short turnaround between the two tournaments leaves little room for proper preparatory matches.
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India to face Ireland in their first group match
Typically, teams play at least two warm-up games before the group stage of a major ICC tournament to get game-ready. According to a report of Cricbuzz, due to the circumstances, the BCCI is pushing for India’s sole warm-up match to be held in New York itself, where they will play three of their four group games.
The ICC currently has the warm-up scheduled in Florida, but Indian officials want to minimize travel for the jet-lagged players coming off the IPL grind.
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While the entire Indian squad will arrive match-fit from IPL duties, they have not assembled as a national unit since the home T20I series against Afghanistan in January. With such a unique challenge facing them, the first batch of Indian players is expected to depart for the USA on May 25th or 26th, immediately after the IPL final.
Those involved in the IPL playoffs will join the squad at a later date as the team looks to quickly build chemistry ahead of their World Cup opener.
India’s schedule for ICC T20 World Cup 2024:
1. India vs Ireland, Eisenhower Park, June 5, New York
2. India vs Pakistan, Eisenhower Park, June 9, New York
3. India vs USA, Eisenhower Park, June 12, New York
4. India vs Canada, Central Broward Park, June 15, Florida
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