Rahul Dravid’s Candid Views on the Controversial US Segment of T20 World Cup 2024

Former India head coach Rahul Dravid has defended the heavily-criticised US leg of the T20 World Cup 2024, stating that the “compromises” of playing at odd hours and dealing with challenging facilities were necessary to expand cricket’s global reach. Hosting the event in the USA for the first time was seen as a pivotal move to build a cricket fan base in the region ahead of the Los Angeles Olympics.

Embracing Challenges for Growth

Dravid emphasized that conducting the event in the USA required significant effort and acknowledged the challenges in facilities and scheduling. “If you want to grow the sport and make it a global game, then you have to be at events like this and make compromises, even if it means playing at odd hours in conditions that might not necessarily be perfect,” Dravid said during a panel discussion on ‘Cricket at the Olympics: Dawn of a New Era,’ celebrating cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

The Controversial Early Starts

The US leg of the T20 World Cup faced criticism for scheduling India matches at 10:30 am local time to accommodate the subcontinental audience, potentially neglecting local American fans. Dravid, however, dismissed the concerns about early starts. “I don’t think starting at 10:30 am was a problem for me, honestly. We are in the entertainment business, which caters to people who want to watch the sport. I had absolutely no problem with it,” he stated.

Ensuring Fair Play Conditions

Dravid pointed out that the early start times actually created a level playing field for both teams by mitigating the impact of dew, which can be a significant factor in day-night games. “From a coaching perspective, I didn’t mind the 10:30 game. The conditions were quite even because dew becomes a factor in a lot of day-night games. The toss can become a big factor, as we saw in Australia,” he explained.

Praising the ICC’s Initiative

Dravid praised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for their bold move to bring the World Cup to the USA, exposing the American audience to cricket. “It was a great effort by the ICC to take the game to the USA and expose that audience to the game. There is a huge passion for the game in the USA. It was really nice to play in the USA; some of the games were packed,” he remarked.

Conclusion

The T20 World Cup 2024 hosted jointly by the USA and the West Indies, where the knockout matches took place, marked a significant milestone in cricket’s expansion efforts. Dravid’s defense underscores the importance of making strategic compromises to foster the sport’s global growth and reach new audiences.