‘If you wish to develop the game…’: Rahul Dravid defends US leg of T20 World Cup | Cricket Information – Instances of India

NEW DELHI: In defence of the harshly criticized US leg of final month’s T20 World Cup, former India head coach Rahul Dravid mentioned that “taking part in at odd hours” and adjusting to “difficult” services had been important “compromises” made with a purpose to convey cricket to a wider viewers.
Dravid said he was okay with the 10.30 a.m. (native time) begins and the infrastructure used for the video games in New York, Florida, and Texas given the large work wanted in organizing the match within the space, in line with PTI.
“Sure, when it comes to services, it is difficult.However if you wish to develop the game and make it a worldwide recreation, then it’s a must to be at occasions like this and make compromises, even when it means taking part in at odd hours in situations which may not essentially be good,” Dravid mentioned in a panel dialogue on ‘Cricket on the Olympics: Daybreak of a New Period’, celebrating the game’s inclusion within the 2028 Los Angeles Video games, right here on Sunday.
Within the occasion that noticed the USA and the West Indies collectively host the knockout matches, Dravid led India to their first ICC title in eleven years.
It was thought that the USA’s first-ever internet hosting of a significant cricket match would function a springboard for growing a following within the space earlier than the Olympics in Los Angeles.
Nevertheless, all India matches had been organized round 10.30am to accommodate the massive sub-continental viewers. This determination was met with some controversy, because it was perceived that native Individuals had been being neglected.
“I do not suppose beginning at 10:30am was an issue for me, truthfully. We’re within the leisure enterprise, which caters to individuals who wish to watch the game. I had completely no drawback with it,” Dravid mentioned.
In line with the previous Indian captain, the early begin actually made positive that the sport was “even-steven” for each groups.
“As a coach, the situations had been fairly even as a result of dew turns into a consider loads of day-night video games. The toss can turn into an enormous issue, as we noticed in Australia. However for 10:30, it was not an issue; it was even-steven for each groups.
“From a training perspective, I did not thoughts the 10:30 recreation,” he mentioned.
Dravid praised the federal government for its daring determination to convey the World Cup to the USA whereas talking with ICC CEO Geoff Allardice.
“It was an incredible effort by the ICC to take the sport to the USA and expose that viewers to the sport. There’s a large ardour for the sport within the USA. It was very nice to play within the USA; among the video games had been packed,” he mentioned.