"We're at a public park and practising" Rahul Dravid opens up about Team India's net session in New York ahead of Ireland clash

Rahul Dravid talked about the Cantiague Park facility where the Indian players have been practising for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Rahul Dravid, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, joked about the team practising in a public park in New York ahead of their first match in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

India will take on Ireland on June 5 at the Nassau Country Cricket Stadium in New York. Team India have been allotted Cantiague Park for their nets and practice sessions for their matches in New York. This training facility is five miles away from the main stadium.

Dravid and the Indian players feel different about the buzz, or the lack of it, in New York compared to the passionate fans in India. That they can practice without interruptions in a public park tells about the lack of excitement about cricket, even during a big global tournament such as the T20 World Cup, in America.

India had a net session on Monday morning at Cantiague Park while South Africa and Sri Lanka played their match at the main ground.

Speaking with the reporters on Monday, Rahul Dravid said, “It is a bit strange to be practising in a park. It’s great fun. It’s something different, but it’s exciting.

“Obviously at the World Cups, you’d be in big stadiums or you’d be at cricket stadiums traditionally. But you know, we’re at a public park and practising.”

Cricket is not one of the major sports in this country: Rahul Dravid

Dravid is optimistic that the fever of the T20 World Cup will catch up in America as the tournament progresses, especially on the days when India are in action.

“It is obviously exciting that it’s coming to a new country, it is coming to a new place. It feels slightly different in terms of, I guess, typically the buzz that you have around these events, with cricket not being one of the major sports in this country. So you don’t feel that kind of buzz over here. But hopefully, once our games start and a lot of the Indian fans do start coming in, you start seeing that similar kind of excitement,” he added.

After playing against Ireland, India will take on Pakistan on June 9 in New York.

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