India's T20 Captain Rohit Sharma Pre-game Presser.

USPA NEWS - On Wednesday June 5th, India will play its first Men's T20 Cricket game against Ireland at the New York International Cricket Stadium. This will be the second of eight game scheduled to be played at the New York venue that was built especially to facilitate ICC T20 World Cup Cricket. The new stadium which has a capacity of 34,000 spectators is expected to be filled for tomorrow's game as the surrounding Nassau County community is home to many Asian citizens.

Tuesday morning members of the India's cricket team hit the practice nets at Cantiague Park training facility in preparation for Wednesday's game against Ireland.

Following the practice session India's Cricket Team Captain met with the media for a pre game press conference at the Cantiague Park training facility. Following is an edited transcribe version of pre-game press conference courtesy of ICC Media zone.

Responding to reporter's question about the excitement of having the T20 in the USA, Indian team captain Rohit Sharma said, "Yeah, the conditions are quite unknown for many teams who are going to play here and it is the same for all the oppositions. It is going to be the same for all the teams playing here. You just have to play a good cricket, it's as simple as that. We're not going to look into too much into the oppositions we are playing. What is important for us, is to do well as a team, whether batting, bowling or fielding. Our focus will be on all these three aspects of the game and not too much into what kind of opposition we are playing. Of course, you look into their strengths and weaknesses, but not looking at how they play or what their team is composed of. I think our focus will be on what we want to do as a team and focus on all three aspects of the game, like I said". Asked about the brand of cricket the team has been playing, Rohit responded: "Yeah, I think we saw in the warm-up game we played against Bangladesh. Of course, the two batters were in the middle.

A lot of communications between them at first, and then obviously, sending the message back in as well is quite important. Those are the basics of when you start playing in slightly difficult or different conditions, I would say; communication between your partners and the guys who are coming to bat in.
We have discussed a lot of stuff before this game as to what the condition has to offer and how we're going to play on these type of conditions. Certainly, it doesn't look like it's a place where you can score easily. So, we've got to be a little mindful of that and see what best we can do. that is what the experience in the dressing room is all about. We've got a lot of experienced batters who have played in different conditions outside of India. I hope their experience come to the fore, apply themselves and use it to their best advantage, and eventually benefiting the team as well.
I think it's quite important to do little things right in these types of conditions, eventually adding up to the bigger cause. And that is what the focus will be on. We are all coming off playing an IPL where a lot of runs were scored. So, it's important to have that balance, understand what is required

It's certainly not going to be an IPL kind of scores here. We are very mindful of that. And we just need to assess as quickly as possible and then bring your game into the picture.
Responding to a question about the prior warm up game against Bangladesh and the first game between South Africa and Sri Lanka, Rohit said;
"I didn't get to watch the game. I was a little busy with my family who had arrived yesterday. But no, certainly I know how the pitch played, hearing from my other teammates, and we've got a lot of guys in the team and the support staff were talking about what happened in that game. But see, again, all I can say is we'll make the best decision possible for these types of conditions, whatever the best level we feel. We'll just go to the ground and have a look at the pitch. Certainly, a lot of things are very uncertain in terms of the outfield, in terms of how the pitch is going to play. there is a square of four pitches. I don't know which wicket we will be playing on. So who knows - the wicket that we are playing tomorrow might be a good wicket to bat on. So it is all about adapting and getting used to that condition fast because you don't have too much time."

Responding to a reporter's question about a fan intrusion unto the playing field during the warm up match against Bangladesh, Rohit Sharma said: " See, first of all , I would say that no one should intrude into the ground. This is not right, and this question was also not right, because we don't want to promote this thing that who is running and coming to the ground.
I think players' security is important, similarly, the security of the people outside is also important. We are playing cricket yes, but the people sitting outside, it is important for them to understand that there are rules and regulations for every country. It is very important to follow them and understand them. So, that's all I can say. Now, what more can I say?
See, the rules are different in India and here. So, understand the rules, what is there and what is not. See the match, they have made such a good stadium. You can watch the match comfortably. No needto run to the ground, no need to do all this, I think".

Responding to a reporter's question about the evolution of the T20 game Rohit Sharma responded: " Yeah, we have seen it over the years. A lot of innovation, a lot of unexpected things people don't expect, guys are doing, that's how the game has evolved. The run scoring has become a lot more frequent and guys are fearless now. They don't worry about the results so much. They just want to try and put pressure. The bowlers, the same as well. They're not afraid of taking various options when they are bowling as well". "So yeah, it's there for people to see how the game has evolved from 2007 to now. 140-150 was a winning score, but again, on pitches like these, I don't know what the good score is, but I'm just saying, all the tournaments that we've been watching, T20 tournaments, the average score is a lot more than what it used to be in 2007. So that's because the innovation of players, trying to do different things at different times, being brave, and stuff like that".

As to the concept and excitement of playing T2O cricket in America and the introduction of Cricket in 2028 LA Olympics Sharma responded:
" No, we are all very excited. We never thought- cricket in America will be played at any given stage, but now that we are here it's a different feeling.
From the time we arrive in New York spending only 10 minutes at immigration, which is rare, so you can make out that the buzz is here, even the locals here are quite intrigued by a cricket tournament happening, a World Cup happening here. Because we go to the cafes and all, there are locals who come there and wish us the best. So, all these things, we've never experienced because we've never been here, We've been to Florida, but this is different. I'm sure all of us who are playing here will leave a mark in this city and the people of US as well".
So hopefully it's the right step in the right direction. And for the future of cricket to happen in America, I think this is the right platform and right first stepping stone for all of us, all the teams participating, to make sure that we leave something behind for the people of US".
For complete interview, audio and visual visit: ICC Media Zone