Rain threatens to spoil city’s cricket mood
| Date :23-Sep-2022 |
By Paritosh Pramanik
SELDOM it happens that on match eve, the discussion veers towards weather rather than cricket and cricketers. The extended monsoon in Nagpur has put a big question mark on the second T20 International between India and Australia to be played at Vidarbha Cricket Association’s Jamtha Stadium, on Friday evening. It has been pouring since many days with only patches of bright sunshine in between which has forced the spectators to discuss more about the weather than their favourite cricketers.
Rain has forced cricket lovers of the city to pray for a few hours of bright sunshine on the match day so that the
game takes place and India level the series.
It’s been 1,047 days that Nagpurians last witnessed India play at Jamtha (Nov 10, 2019). The hosts had thrashed Bangladesh by 30 runs. On the match eve, there was hustle-bustle at Jamtha Stadium with hundreds of workers tirelessly working to make the ground match ready. VCA administration has been working round-the-clock to make the game happen even if there is a slightest of chance. The ground has been kept fully covered with tarpaulins with special importance being given to the centre wickets.
Rains lashed the city on Thursday morning and continued till noon but as the clouds separated giving sun a little space to peep out the groundsmen quickly removed all the covers exposing the green lawn carpet to the gentle breeze and bright light.
At around 4 pm on Thursday, four super soppers were pressed into action and were seen moving gently, covering every inch of the green lawn turf soaking every drop of water.
“The inner circle and the outfield is in good shape despite rains. The drainage system at Jamtha is excellent and we are positive that tomorrow’s match is on,” one of the officials was optimistic.
If the match takes place, every seat of the 44,000 capacity stadium would be occupied by spectators who would cheer for an Indian win against the World T20 champions who have a poor record against the hosts at this venue.
This stadium has been a lucky venue for Rohit Sharma and his men as far as the opponents from Down Under are concerned. India have a perfect record against Australia at Jamtha as they have won all the five international matches (one Test and four ODIs).
BRIGHTER LIGHTS It would be a whole new experience for both the teams to play under newly installed LED lights at Jamtha Stadium which had last hosted a T20I against Bangladesh way back in November, 2019.
“As the lights were too old (installed in 2008 when the stadium was constructed), we decided to replace it with LEDs which give more brightness. We have tested the lights and it’s amazingly bright,” one of the VCA officials told.
FORCED BREAK FOR TEAMS
Rain on Thursday morning and afternoon forced both the teams to stay in their hotel rooms. The Australian team was scheduled to practice in the afternoon while the Indian squad in the evening.
First Australia decided to skip the nets and later in the day Indians opted not to practice.
The batting nets at Jamtha Stadium too were covered with tarpaulin and enough water was seen on them. It would have been risky to do nets in such conditions. Hence, both the teams decided to avoid any injury risk and stayed at their respective hotels.
USE METRO, BUSES
The continuous rain has made the parking area at Jamtha Stadium slushy and it would be advisable to all spectators to use Maha Metro and Aapli Bus Services provided by VCA.
The parking area is farm land and vehicles may get stuck in the mud as the soil is loose and wet. It would also be too slippery to venture into these places.
VCA tried to make the parking area usable by putting trucks of muroom but with rains unabated, it didn’t help.
For convenience of spectators, Maha Metro trains will be plying from various stations in the city till Chinchbhuvan Metro Station (New Airport station) and back to those stations after the match is over.
After the match is over additional trains will also be available till 1:00 am. Normal metro revenue services from all operational stations of Orange and Aqua lines to New Airport Metro Station will be available till 10.00 pm.
To avoid travel time and chaos at ticket windows, Maha Metro has urged spectators to buy return journey tickets initially from the boarding station.
The VCA has also made arrangements to deploy 60 buses to ferry spectators from New Airport Metro station to Jamtha before the start of the match and from Jamtha to New Airport Metro Station after the match.
The buses will ply between 1 pm on September 23 and 2 am on September 24 from Airport Metro Station to VCA Jamtha Stadium. Buses will also ply to various parking areas like Sharirik Shikshan Ground etc continuously. The gates of the Stadium will open for spectators at 3.30 pm.
All eyes will be heavenwards on Friday morning and talks will continue to hover around the Nagpur weather till the first ball is bowled.