Former India head coach Rahul Dravid has defended the heavily-criticised US leg of final month’s T20 World Cup, saying that “taking part in at odd hours” and dealing with “difficult” services have been obligatory “compromises” to take cricket to a bigger viewers. Given the massive effort concerned in conducting the occasion within the area, Dravid stated he was fantastic with the ten.30am (native time) begins and the infrastructure used for the video games in New York, Florida and Texas.

“Sure, by way of services, it is difficult. However if you wish to develop the game and make it a worldwide recreation, then you must be at occasions like this and make compromises, even when it means taking part in at odd hours in situations that may not essentially be good,”

Dravid stated in a panel dialogue on ‘Cricket on the Olympics: Daybreak of a New Period’, celebrating the game’s inclusion within the 2028 Los Angeles Video games, on Sunday.

Dravid coached India to their first ICC title in 11 years within the event hosted collectively by the USA and the West Indies, the place the knockout matches have been performed.

The USA internet hosting a cricketing showpiece for the primary time was seen as a stepping stone to constructing a fan base within the area forward of the Los Angeles Olympics.

However, to be able to additionally cater to the massive viewers within the subcontinent, all India matches have been held at 10.30am, which attracted a little bit of criticism because it was felt that native People weren’t considered.

“I do not suppose beginning at 10:30am was an issue for me, actually. We’re within the leisure enterprise, which caters to individuals who need to watch the game. I had completely no downside with it,” Dravid stated.

The previous India participant stated the early begin, in reality, ensured it was “even-steven” for each the groups.

“As a coach, the situations have been fairly even as a result of dew turns into a think about plenty of day-night video games. The toss can develop into an enormous issue, as we noticed in Australia. However for 10:30, it was not an issue; it was even-steven for each groups.

“From a training perspective, I did not thoughts the ten:30 recreation,” he stated.

Dravid had ICC CEO Geoff Allardice for firm through the dialogue and lauded the governng physique for its audacious transfer of taking a World Cup to the USA.

“It was an incredible effort by the ICC to take the sport to the USA and expose that viewers to the sport. There’s a big ardour for the sport within the USA. It was very nice to play within the USA; a few of the video games have been packed,” he stated.

(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)