(Cricket News) The Indian side started their training in New York, as they had their first session on Tuesday after reaching New York ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The Indian contingent started their preparations at a local facility in New York.

Virat Kohli was the only missing figure in the side, who still hasn’t reached the USA. He will most likely miss India’s only warm-up game against Bangladesh which is scheduled to be played on the 1st of June at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. Kohli’s travel status and when will he join the side is still not clear.

The Indian squad left for New York in batches as per their IPL commitments. Players from the sides that were eliminated before the IPL 2024 playoffs were the first ones to leave. Hardik Pandya was the only one who did not travel with that batch and took a leave for couple of days. Hardik, however has joined the side in the New York.

Day 1 of India’s training on Tuesday was about acclimatising. The skill training sessions are expected to follow in the next few days to come. Soham Desai, India’s strength and conditioning coach provided an idea of the routine being followed by the players, who have all been a part of the grind at IPL 2024 over the past couple of months.

“We’ve not yet played cricket. We’ve come here for a team activity today,” Jasprit Bumrah said. “Hopefully it will be good. The weather is really good. So looking forward.” The players on the first day warmed up, went for runs, did some basic strength-and-conditioning work, and did some drills with a football to end the day.

“They have been away for two-and-a-half months from us [the national team setup]. Just getting them together to know where they stand, what needs to be done before the World Cup was the goal,” Desai said of the Tuesday session. “[The] goal is to spend 45 minutes to an hour there on the park to again get going.

“We want to see them move. We want to see them run so that we can put enough plans in place for each guy to be ready for the first game.

India are placed in Group A of the 2024 T20 World Cup along side Ireland, Pakistan, USA and Canada. India’s first game will be on June 5, against Ireland, followed by group-stage fixtures against Pakistan on June 9, USA on June 12, and Canada on June 15. The side will play all their games in the USA. The first three games will be played in New York and the last in Lauderhill, Florida.

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