There’s nothing about the opposition that is going to worry them at Fort Lauderhill — minnows Canada should be easy meat. But there’s a storm brewing over Miami, and there could be a case where the game may not be played at all.
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In fact, flights have started getting cancelled as flood alerts keep coming and even before India entered the ground for their match against the United States, everyone was keeping tabs on Miami’s weather forecast for the next few days.
More than the game, India will not get the two intense sessions of practice in Miami, that may just hurt them as they gear up for the more difficult leg of their World Cup sojourn — the West Indies.
“We hope that the weather clears up on time so that we get a game. But if we don’t, there’s not much that we can do about it,” Team India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey said on Wednesday.
India’s game against Canada is on June 16 while their first game in West Indies is on June 20. Every game in the Super 8 is a must-win and India’s potential opponents— Australia, England, Afghanistan and New Zealand — have all been playing in the West Indies. It has given them enough time to get used to the Caribbean conditions, which should stand them in good stead in the Super 8s.
India, on the other hand, have been playing on quite unique conditions in New York and with a probable four-day gap before they get to work in the Windies, the break could be unwanted for a team that is looking to build momentum.
Mhambrey, though, didn’t want to read too much into it, because he insists that “the team has experience” to deal with such difficulties.
“I think the good thing is that we have already played in the West Indies — a couple of series out prior to this. So, more or less know what kind of a surface we’ll encounter out there. We have played in those conditions in India as well. If you travel in India, Wankhede is different to Gujarat or Delhi, so it’s not exactly alien conditions for us,” the bowling coach said.
The pace bowlers have enjoyed themselves in New York, but that doesn’t mean that India will stick to the tried-andtested in West Indies as well. If there is some help in the pitch, Mhambrey said that Kuldeep Yadav can very well come into the equation.
“He was in very good rhythm in the IPL and has been bowling well in the nets. He completely understands why he isn’t playing here, but that doesn’t mean he will not be in our equations in West Indies,” Mhambrey said, stressing on the flexibility that the India is aiming for to lift the trophy that they last won in 2007.