(AP Photo)
The ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 presents a notable departure from the high-scoring matches cricket fans have become accustomed to, particularly following the conclusion of the Indian Premier League 2024. Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar shared his insights in a column for the Hindustan Times, suggesting that while the low-scoring games in the United States of America may raise concerns, they also offer a unique balance. This prompts a consideration of which extreme is more appealing to viewers.
Transitioning from watching batters effortlessly achieve 200+ totals to witnessing struggles to surpass the 100-run mark raises questions about the suitability of the current playing surfaces in the USA for promoting the game in the country. Manjrekar argues that despite these concerns, the low-scoring contests seen in the ongoing T20 World Cup are more captivating than the typical high-scoring games prevalent in most T20 leagues.
“I might not be the most accurate representation of T20 fans, or cricket fans in general, but I have found the matches so far quite fascinating and more interesting than the bowler bashing that goes on in most T20 leagues,” said the former Indian cricketer.
The ex-Indian cricketer, now a commentator, praised India’s wicketkeeper-batsman, Rishabh Pant, for his impressive performance despite the challenging conditions. Pant is currently India’s top scorer in the tournament, having scored two 30+ runs in the three matches played in New York. Additionally, he recorded the only fifty in the warm-up match against Bangladesh before the tournament commenced.
He wrote, “I have huge respect for Pant. In a relatively short Test career, he may have already played three all-time great Indian innings. This rare ability he possesses has got Pant to be India’s best batter on all three outings on this NY pitch”.
India has already booked their place in the Super-8s after defeating the USA yesterday. They aim to maintain their winning streak by securing a victory against Canada in their last group-stage match.
