The 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season has been plagued by inclement weather, with the latest victim being the Madhya Pradesh-Karnataka Elite Group-C match at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. The second day of the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to overnight rain that left the ground unplayable.
The bowlers' run-up areas at both ends were particularly affected, and despite clear skies and sunshine throughout the day, they remained soggy and slippery. The groundstaff employed various methods to dry out the damp spots, including super-soppers, exhaust fans, and heavy rollers, but their efforts proved futile.
This incident comes on the heels of another major venue, Kanpur, being criticized for its failure to restart play for two full days during the recently concluded Test series against Bangladesh. While Indore has experienced unseasonal rains in recent days, some locals and former office-bearers have alleged that much of the infrastructure, such as ground covers, was moved to Gwalior for a T20I match against Bangladesh last Sunday and had only returned on Saturday.
However, Rohit Pandit, the Chief Administrative Officer of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, denied these claims, stating that they generally do not cover the entire ground for domestic matches. He also expressed uncertainty about why the game could not be started despite the rain stopping at 4.30 a.m.
The match was eventually called off at 3.55 p.m., with rain forecast until October 15. The decision to cover the entire ground with sheets will be at the discretion of the curator.
Tags: #RanjiTrophy, #Indore, #Rain, #AbandonedMatch, #Cricket
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