India vs Bangladesh: Unpleasant weather and cyclone is set to create hindrance in the 2nd T20I at Rajkot

After
pollution and smog rattled the India and Bangladesh cricketers in the first
T20I in New Delhi with appeals of even calling off the match circulating on
social media, inclement weather and cyclone is set to greet them in the 2nd
T20I at Rajkot.

 Despite travelling from north to the west of
the country, there seems to be no break for the players who will now have to
deal with cyclone ‘Maha’ at Rajkot ahead of the 2nd T20I which has the
potential of deciding the series.

Four Indian
states were put on alert after the Meteorological Department predicted two
cyclones – cyclone Maha and cyclone Bulbul in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of
Bengal. Gujarat and Maharashtra are likely to receive rains due to Maha, while
the developing cyclone Bulbul will likely affect Bengal and Odisha.

For players
of India and Bangladesh, cyclone Maha is set to be the worrying factor as
Rajkot, the venue for the 2nd T20I – comes in Gujarat.

The
Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium received a lot of rainfall on Wednesday
due to the deep depression formed because of cyclone Maha and though the
cyclone is set to lose its force when it approaches Saurashtra towards the
afternoon on Thursday, chances of thunderstorms cannot entirely be ruled out.

According to
weather forecasts of Rajkot on Thursday, it is set to remain cloudy throughout
the day while there are around 50% chances of thunderstorms between 2-5 pm.

The
India-Bangladesh 2nd T20I is set to begin from 7 pm. The stadium here can be prepared
in an hour’s time for play, provided rains stop before the start of play.

It remained
cloudy on Wednesday morning with the sun shining brightly in phases, bringing
along humidity and heat. Both the teams preferred to train during the daytime
for two days leading into the match.

However,
heavy rains along with strong winds lashed the SCA stadium in the evening.
Along with thunder and lightning, it continued for more than half an hour
leaving large water puddles on the field. The pitch and the area around it was
covered with multiple layers of tarpaulin.

For the
fifth-ranked India, a washout will mean that they will not win a series at home
for the second consecutive time. For ninth-ranked Bangladesh, a washout would
mean they would have avoided a series loss in India.