Newbie versus veteran. David versus Goliath.
Such an example of an underdog versus a superior team also applies to the USA vs India match in the 2014 T20 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
But when the two teams meet at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on Long Island, the U.S. could be one of the favorites to win the month-long tournament, judging by their performance so far.
Meanwhile, India won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 and were runners-up in 2014 and are currently ranked number one in the world in the T20 format according to the ICC (International Cricket Council).
Here are some things New Jersey cricket fans need to know about this intriguing matchup, the final game played in New York this World Cup.
Beginners face off against veterans
The United States national cricket team was formed in 1965, but this year it is participating in the ICC World Cup tournament for the first time because the United States is co-hosting the World Cup with the West Indies national team.
But the U.S. team showed cricket fans what they’re made of with an upset win over longtime rivals Canada on June 1, followed by an upset win over Pakistan, who finished runners-up behind England in the 2022 T20 World Cup, on June 6.
The US team boasts a solid batting line-up led by captain Monank Patel, who moved to the US from Gujarat, India in 2016. He has ties to New Jersey and was a member of the New Jersey Stallions team in the Minor League Cricket League and is currently a member of MI New York in Major League Cricket. Patel contributed 50 runs to the win against Pakistan.
Other top-order batsmen include New York’s Aaron Jones, who scored 94 in the USA’s win over Canada, and Africa’s Andries Gauss. The bowling attack will be led by Saurabh Netravalkar, a software engineer by trade with technology company Oracle.
Meanwhile, India come into the match fresh from a comfortable win over Ireland on June 5 and a thrilling victory over long-time rivals Pakistan on Sunday (at a sold-out Nassau County International Cricket Stadium), in which they managed to score just 119 runs while restricting their opponents to just 113 runs.
The Indian team is led by captain Rohit Sharma and features stars like Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah, whose brilliant bowling saw him claim three wickets while conceding just 14 runs in his four overs, earning him the man of the match award on Sunday.
Both teams top Group A with two wins in the first stage of the tournament, but only one can claim a third win. If a match is cancelled due to rain, each team will be awarded one point.
How to watch India vs USA Cricket World Cup match
Tickets are still available for Wednesday’s game, but they are expensive and will sell out quickly.
The ICC T20 Men’s World Cup webpage shows tickets for seats in the Premium section are on sale from $300, up to $7,500 for Diamond Club seats.
Ticket broker Stubhub has tickets ranging from slightly cheaper to quite expensive, and the cheapest price on its website on Monday was $252 for two tickets (before fees), but two tickets were selling for an astronomical $54,427 apiece (yes, before fees).
The cricket stadium gates open at 8:30am. There is a car park close to the stadium, but you must purchase a parking pass before match day to enter the car park.
For fans in New Jersey, the best way to avoid the traffic is to take a Long Island Railroad train from Manhattan’s Penn Station to Huntington and get off at the Westbury station (a 45-minute trip), where a shuttle bus will transport fans to the stadium for $5.80 round trip.
Visitors should take note of the following security measures at the stadium:
- Bags are not allowed inside the stadium and flying drones in the airspace is also prohibited.
- Attendees will have to pass through a metal detector upon entering the stadium.
- Eisenhower Park, where the stadium is located, will be off-limits to the public from 6am to 6pm during the World Cup, and several roads around the park will also be closed.
Fans who cannot make it to the stadium can watch for free at the public fan park set up for the World Cup at the Oculus Plaza at the World Trade Center, but will need to reserve tickets through Eventbrite if they want to attend.
You can also watch the games from the comfort of your home or office as Willow TV is the only cable broadcaster that will be showing the World Cup in the US and Canada. TV providers that will be broadcasting Willow TV include DISH, Sling, FIOS, Spectrum, Xfinity, Optimum and Optimum TV.
Ricardo Kaulessar covers race, immigration and culture for NorthJersey.com. To get unlimited access to the most important news in your local community, subscribe now or activate your digital account.
Email: kaulessar@northjersey.com
Twitter: @ricardokaul
