The Guwahati ground staff did their best to repair some damp patches on the pitch after a brief spell of rain during the 1st T20I between India and Sri Lanka on Sunday. Reportedly, there was a leak in the covers which allowed the rainwater seep through to the pitch at the Barsapara Stadium. Despite the ground staff trying all that they could, the match was called off without a ball bowled.
Notably, the ground staff even has seen using used hairdryers, steam irons, and vacuum cleaners to dry the wet patches on the pitch. The wet patch became a major hindrance to the start of the 1st T20I even hours after the rain stopped on Sunday in Guwahati.
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Former India opener, Aakash Chopra said on-air that it was disappointing to see such kind of preparation for an international game, he said, “The outfield is bone-dry so I’d say it’s a schoolboy error that the water has seeped onto the pitch. Perhaps there are a few holes in the covers. It’s really disappointing preparation for an international game.”
Even after several inspections from the umpires, the match was called off after the cut-off time (9:46 PM) for a 5-over-a-side T20I match.
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Even after the rain relented, and the umpires came out for a routine inspection, Kohli was seen unhappy at seeing the wet patches which became a huge point if discussion after the match. When Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, and Rishabh Pant walked out to do some drills, the crowd started singing ‘Maa Tujhe Salaam’ in unison with the flashes of their smartphones turned on in full to create a magical scene.
https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1213843936357142528
The usage of the hair dryer to repair the large damp patches on the pitch invited criticism from fans on social media.
1980 – will have flying cars in 2020
2020 – drying pitch with hair dryer #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/H6EM1zQwzm
— dp (@dhruv1n) January 5, 2020
The hair dryer and steam iron are being used now to dry the pitch. Sri Lanka should have taken R Premadasa stadium rain covers to India 🇱🇰🏏 #INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/tQxR50axPL
— Azzam Ameen (@AzzamAmeen) January 5, 2020
https://twitter.com/DTRomesh/status/1213851204993867778
Seriously, Are we really the richest board in the world?? When we can't afford measures to tackle these issues. Steam iron and hair dryer being used to dry the pitch… Creative yet poor measures. #INDvSL #Guwahati pic.twitter.com/sKcFquks8t
— Nakul Kulshrestha (@NakulKulshrest1) January 5, 2020
Hair dryer, steam iron , vacuum cleaner and what not for the wet patch on the slot region of the pitch to dry 😀#jugaad #INDvsSL #JustIndianThings
— Devansh (@devanshot) January 5, 2020
Hair dryer ? seriously ? What a shame ! #INDvSL
— Naveen (@_naveenish) January 5, 2020
Hair dryer and iron (Yes the one used for ironing clothes) deployed to dry the pitch. LOL. Unprecedented.
On serious note, heads need to roll at @BCCI @SGanguly99 #INDvsSL
— Gaurav Chattur (@chatturg) January 5, 2020
Such a powerful hair-dryer…. Indian jugaad! 🤣🤣 #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/JKsiO0Vq09
— Tridib Baparnash ॐ (@TridibIANS) January 5, 2020
Some people were annoying about England's ground staff during World cup. Now they are drying pitch by hair dryer..😂😂#INDvSL
— SAFNAS HASHIM (@SafnasHasim) January 5, 2020
The erupting crowd could only be silenced a few minutes after the last inspection was held at 21:30 IST when the umpires announced that the match would be called off. Everyone present including the cricketers had genuine reasons to be disappointed. The teams will now travel to Indore for the 2nd T20I to be played on Tuesday.
