In a highly anticipated warm-up clash for the ICC World Cup 2023, Rohit Sharma’s Indian squad was primed to face off against the Netherlands at the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram today. This match held significant importance as India aimed to provide ample opportunities to all their players while finalizing their playing XI ahead of their World Cup opener against Australia on October 8.
India’s recent series triumph over the five-time world champions, Australia, served as a significant confidence booster for the team as they geared up for their participation in the World Cup. This victory was especially meaningful as the World Cup was returning to India after a hiatus of 12 years. The win not only showcased India’s prowess but also instilled a sense of belief and determination within the squad as they aimed to make their mark on the global cricket stage once again.
On the other hand, the Netherlands had previously squared off against Australia in their first warm-up encounter at the same venue on September 30, a match that was unfortunately affected by rain. The contest couldn’t produce a result, with Australia managing to score 166 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in their 23 overs, while the Netherlands could only muster 84 runs and lost 6 wickets before the game was eventually abandoned.
Adding intrigue to the day’s events, former Indian skipper Virat Kohli was notably absent from the Indian squad as he did not board the flight from Guwahati to Thiruvananthapuram, opting instead to travel to Mumbai due to a reported ‘personal emergency.’
The rest of the Indian contingent arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday evening in preparation for the clash against the Netherlands on October 3.
Much like the previous encounter between the two teams, rain played a pivotal role in this warm-up match. Thiruvananthapuram has proven to be a rain-affected venue for warm-up matches, with this being the third such match called off due to inclement weather.
Regrettably, after a delayed toss due to rain, today’s match had to be abandoned. This marks the third warm-up match in Thiruvananthapuram to suffer the same fate, leaving both teams eager to make the most of their limited opportunities as they prepare for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023.
