I didn't expect the facilities to be as good as it is in the USA: Anil Kumble

India coach Anil Kumble has expressed his happiness about the facilities at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Florida. According to Kumble, the facilities at the venue were above his expectations and he certainly didn’t expect it. Launderhill is set to host two T20 internationals between West Indies and India over the weekend.

“I certainly didn’t expect the facilities to be as good as what it is in the United States,” Kumble said in Lauderhill on Thursday. “I certainly felt that it could be a makeshift. I had heard about Florida and this ground, but very impressed with the facilities that we have seen today. It’s the first time that I’m seeing this ground and the wickets are good, ideal probably for a T20, and the practice facilities have been good, the outfield looks fantastic. So all in all, really impressed with the facilities here.

This will be the first time India will be playing international matches in the USA. The Central Broward Regional Park is the only ICC certified ODI standard stadium facility in the USA and hosted six Caribbean Premier League matches last month.

“It’s a wonderful initiative and we are really looking forward to our matches here, it’s going to be a sell out. We know US…the expats and the huge Indian diaspora who are wanting for quality cricket to come to the US. We have played in the past in the West Indies and a lot of Indians come over form the US to watch us.”

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“So this is a great opportunity for all of them and I’m sure this is the start of a new beginning in the United States and I’m sure there will be a lot more of the Indian team in the US going forward.”

BCCI president Anurag Thakur had said that the two-match series was rolled out with an effort to expand the sport’s reach and develop it into an annual event in the USA wit an aim to “reach out to new markets and audiences. The Indian squad arrived in Florida from the West Indies on Tuesday, before they were joined by T20 captain MS Dhoni and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah on Wednesday.

It will be for the first time that news Head Coach Anil Kumble will work with MS Dhoni and a couple of other players.

“This is the first time that I’ll be working with MS, obviously we have played together over a long period of time and we had a chat yesterday and today as well. I’m really looking forward to working with him and the new set of boys like Bumrah who’s joined as well. I’ve worked with him in the IPL so it’s nice to be a part of the India dressing room again.”

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India enter the T20 series with a 2-0 win over the West Indies in the Test series. When asked if the change of format has anything to do with the players performances, Kumble said that it’s merely a “mindset change.” He also acknowledged the quality of the opposition.

“West Indies has always been a tough side, they are the T20 world champions,” Kumble said. “About the shift that we need to make from Test cricket to T20, the West Indies players may not have to do that because some of them are coming straight from the CPL.”

“They are quality cricketers and have shown consistently how good they are and we had a tough match in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup as well. In terms of the quality that we are going to encounter, we are aware of that. It’s going to be a challenge and I think the Indian team has done really well over the last six months as a T20 side as well so that’s something that we are looking forward to.”