Ahead of the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand, Mitchell Marsh, the captain of Australia's T20I team, discussed the team's composition and confirmed that the top order was well-established. Marsh, alongside David Warner and Travis Head, was set to occupy the first three positions in the batting lineup. Marsh stated that he had been batting at number three for the past 18 months and would continue in that position. He also acknowledged the exceptional performances of Warner and Head, indicating that they were likely to complete the top three positions in the batting order. Marsh shared these insights on the eve of the series opener.

The presence of a strong middle-order comprising players like Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Matt Short, and Tim David, in addition to other factors, has led to speculation about Steve Smith's role in the T20 World Cup lineup for Australia.

Despite the aforementioned concerns, coach McDonald affirmed that Steve Smith remains a viable candidate for the upcoming T20 World Cup, a tournament that Australia emerged victorious in back in 2021. McDonald emphasized that Smith would be given opportunities to showcase his skills, as the team aims to experiment with various combinations in the lead-up to the World Cup.

"It was quite intriguing, wasn't it? I'm not sure. I don't have much to say about it." This response from Ben Stokes in India can be considered one of his most diplomatic answers thus far.

Prior to this tour, England had consciously decided not to complain about the pitches. Just like any team playing at home, it was India's prerogative to prepare surfaces that suited them. Criticizing the pitches would only make England appear like sore losers and, even worse, create a sense of paranoia within their own team. The internal messaging was clear: accept the conditions and adapt. The team's preparation in Abu Dhabi, where they practiced on carefully prepared pitches with sand content, was done with this perspective in mind.

For the most part, England has adhered to their decision to refrain from complaints, with the exception of some gripes about the Decision Review System (DRS). The pitches in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, and Rajkot have been consistently excellent, offering a range of conditions and ultimately rewarding skill and talent. As reflected in the 2-1 scoreline, India has been the superior team thus far.

However, the situation is expected to change in Ranchi. The England team arrived at the JSCA International Stadium to find a peculiar-looking 22-yard pitch. Two days before the Friday match, the surface was already cracked, leading some players to anticipate shifts and changes under pressure.

Cricket is making its way to the United States as it prepares to host its first-ever ICC cricket tournament, the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. The tournament will be co-hosted by the U.S. and the West Indies, with 55 matches scheduled to be played across various stadiums in Texas, New York, and Florida from June 1 to June 29.

The opening match of the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup will feature Canada and the U.S. on June 1 in Dallas, while the final match will take place on June 29 in Barbados. The semi-finals will be held in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.

According to the ICC schedule, the highly anticipated match between Pakistan and India will take place in New York City on June 9. England will begin the year as the defending champions, having defeated Pakistan in the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup in Melbourne. This tournament will also be the first time Canada, USA, and Uganda participate in a Men's T20 World Cup.