Indian batters have the tools to solve New York pitch challenge, says Vikram Rathour

India's batsmen possess the necessary skills and experience to handle the challenge of playing on a tricky pitch in New York, as stated by batting coach Vikram Rathour (55) following their Twenty20 World Cup triumph over Ireland on Wednesday.

India skipper Rohit Sharma showcased an impressive half-century to lead his team to an eight-wicket win against Ireland in their first group match.

Despite this, the batsmen faced difficulties due to the movement and bounce offered by the drop-in pitch at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, resulting in a low-scoring game after Ireland was bowled out for 96 with four overs remaining.

Rathour informed reporters, "It was a challenging wicket and we were anticipating a challenging wicket because we played a practice match here. Therefore, we were aware of what to expect."

"We must find a way to handle it, and I believe we have sufficient skills and experience within the team to manage it. We should be able to cope...

"We have several quality batsmen who can perform well on any type of surface. I believe this has been our strength for many years. We are capable of adapting effectively to various conditions."

The New York stadium has witnessed low scores in the two World Cup matches it has hosted so far, with South Africa defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets on Monday after restricting their Asian opponents to their lowest-ever T20I score of 77.

The pitch has received widespread criticism, with former England captain Michael Vaughan expressing his disapproval on social media platform X: "Trying to promote the game in the States is commendable. I appreciate it.

"However, it is unacceptable for players to compete on this substandard surface in New York after working so hard to qualify for the (World Cup).".

The upcoming game at the venue will witness Canada competing against Ireland on Friday, followed by the highly anticipated clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan on June 9th.

The World Cup, scheduled from June 1st to 29th, is jointly hosted by the United States and West Indies.