The ongoing T20 World Cup has already seen its share of surprises, but the USA’s stunning victory over Pakistan has set the stage for what could be another major upset. USA all-rounder Harmeet Singh has expressed confidence that his team can pose a significant challenge to India in their upcoming Group A match, provided they manage to stay competitive until the final over.
Speaking to ANI, Harmeet Singh outlined the USA‘s strategy for the high-stakes game against India at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. “The way the wicket is playing in New York, it is uneven, and I don’t see a very high-scoring game. When the game is not high-scoring, we can make a comeback. If we take a couple of wickets early and play well in the middle, as long as we are in the game till the last ball, the pressure will always be on the bigger side who is playing against us. I think this will be the plan, staying in the game for 20 overs,” Harmeet said.
Recent Victory Against Pakistan
The USA pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the tournament by defeating Pakistan, the 2009 World Cup winners, by five runs. This victory has boosted the team’s confidence and their chances of securing a top-two spot in Group A, which includes formidable teams like India, Pakistan, Ireland, and Canada.
“We have been playing really well for the last few months. Our confidence level is very high. We knew Pakistan had recently lost two series, and T20 is a format that works on momentum. When you lose, you keep on losing, and you keep losing the key moments of the game,” Harmeet explained.
Key Factors in the Upcoming Match
While India will be a significant challenge, the USA team believes they have the strategy to upset the Indian squad. India, having played three games at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium and won all three, will be playing on familiar turf. In contrast, it will be an unfamiliar ground for the USA. However, the USA team is prepared to adapt and perform under pressure.
Harmeet emphasized the importance of early wickets and maintaining composure throughout the game. “If we take a couple of wickets early and play well in the middle… as long as we are in the game till the last ball, the pressure will always be on the bigger side who is playing against us,” he reiterated.
The Pakistan Game
Reflecting on the match against Pakistan, Harmeet noted that the USA managed to negate Pakistan’s attack effectively during the power play. Although Pakistan pacers slowed their momentum by dismissing key batters, the USA needed a boundary on the final ball to take the game to a Super Over. Harmeet felt that the game should not have gone to the Super Over.
“It wasn’t a game that should have gone to Super Over. We made a couple of errors. We have a different matchwinner in every game. The team has a lot of potential and matchwinners, they can win you matches on their day, and players are coming to their support,” Harmeet remarked.
Upcoming Challenge
The USA team, which includes players like Monank Patel, Aaron Jones, Corey Anderson, and Ali Khan, among others, is gearing up for their clash against India with renewed vigor and confidence. The match is set to take place on Wednesday at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.
As the USA prepares for what could be another historic game, all eyes will be on their performance against one of the tournament’s favorites, India. The cricketing world eagerly awaits to see if the USA can pull off another major upset and continue their remarkable journey in the T20 World Cup 2024.
USA Team for India Clash:
Monank Patel (C), Aaron Jones, Andries Gous, Corey Anderson, Ali Khan, Harmeet Singh, Jessy Singh, Milind Kumar, Nisarg Patel, Nitish Kumar, Noshtush Kenjige, Saurabh Netravalkar, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Steven Taylor, Shayan Jahangir. Reserve Players: Gajanand Singh, Juanoy Drysdale, Yasir Mohammad.
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