Rain and wet outfield forced the first ODI between India and South Africa in Dharamshala to be abandoned without a ball being bowled. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
New Delhi:
India are all set to host South Africa for the first of three ODIs and the match will take place at the HPCA stadium in Dharamshala on Thursday. Virat Kohli's Indian cricket team will be looking to bounce back after the 3-0 drubbing against New Zealand while South Africa are on the ultimate high after whitewashing Australia 3-0 in the recent ODI series. However, there is a major problem heading into the clash in Dharamshala. The forecast for Thursday is 100 percent chances of rain. Thundershowers are predicted for Thursday, the day of the match, and Friday because of a fresh western disturbance over north Pakistan and adjoining Jammu and Kashmir. It has been raining since Tuesday night.
Match abandoned due to rain. For the second consecutive time in an India vs South Africa clash at Dharamshala, a game has been abandoned without a ball being bowled due to the weather conditions.
The ground is still under covers and there are dark clouds still in place. Looking increasingly difficult that the ground will be ready before the 6:30 PM cut-off time.
Still no news from Dharamshala. It is drizzling and cloudy but the groundstaff need one hour to get the ground ready for a 6:30 PM start. For that, they have to start making the groud ready from 5:00 PM.
This is the current situation in Dharamshala. Not looking good at all.
The situation now at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala..#IndvSA #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/YswDDNRisK
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 12, 2020
It has once again started to pelt down in Dharamshala and there is a prospect of fog as well.
It has stopped raining in Dharamshala and the super soppers are in full flow. However, there are dark clouds still overhead.
The rain is back in Dharamshala. We will lose one over every four minutes. If the rain does not stop by 5:30 PM, expect an annoucement of the game being called off sooner than 6:30 PM IST.
Update: 6:30 PM is the cut off time for a Twenty20 game but unfortunately, dark clouds are once again building up. Rain is forecast again.
There are thunderstorms scheduled once again between 4 PM and 5 PM. A Twenty20 shootout also looks impossible in the current situation.
The rain has stopped for the moment in Dharamshala but the covers are being slowly peeled off. There are dark clouds on the horizon though and more showers are predicted.
It is absolutely lashing down at the moment in Dharamshala. There were chances of rain from 2 PM onwards all the way till the evening. But, the rain is here even more quickly.
Not good news coming from Dharamshala. The rain has come back and massive covers are being bought on to cover the entire pitch and outfield. Forget about the 1:15 PM inspection.
The toss in Dharamshala has been delayed due to a wet outfield. An inspection has been scheduled at 1:15 PM IST.
