December 25, 1997 – The first ever International game to be called off due to unsafe pitch

Back in 1997, when Sri Lanka were actually competitive to India, the Indore’s Nehru stadium witnessed a farce on the Christmas as the ODI game between the two sides got abandoned due to an unsafe pitch. Coming into the 2nd match, the home side led the 3-match ODI series 1-0 and wanted a bouncy track with grass to reduce the threat of Sri Lanka’s top order’s aggressive batting. However, they found out the groundsman Narendra Menon produced a cracked and dry pitch for the game when they reached the venue that was going to favour spin and pace.

After discussions between Menon and the Indian team, the groundsmen started to prepare an alternative strip by watering and rolling just when the Sri Lankans entered the area. Realizing the pitch was going to be made to favour the Indian bowlers, the visiting side consulted the match referee Ahmed Ebrahim. The referee decided to use the first strip for the match as less than 24 hours of time was left before the game.

The first ever International match to be called off due to unsafe pitch:

Lankans elected to bat first after winning the toss while India handed the debut to all-rounder Hrishikesh Kanitkar to use his off-spin services. Javgal Srinath bowled the first over that produced huge bounce despite bowling at low speeds. Romesh Kaluwithrana got deceived by the bounce on the 4th ball as he played on to stumps while driving. The final ball of the over bounced high off a short length which Sanath Jayasuriya edged to Rajesh Chauhan in the slips who dropped the catch.

Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar decided to use off-spinner Chauhan from the other end who too produced the bounce. Srinath’s 2nd over witnessed variable bounce and the Lankans decided to tackle from outside the crease. The final ball struck Roshan Mahanama’s gloves after which the batsmen decided to complain to the umpires who passed on same to the referee Ebrahim. Arjuna Ranatunga walked to the middle for a conversation with Sachin and discussions went for nearly one hour along with the officials before they called off the match due to unsafe pitch.

A 25-over exhibition match as compensation:

A huge crowd of 25,000 turned up at Indore for the ODI and the ground officials feared protests from them if no more play was possible. According to the then reports, a local lawyer nearly went demanding the arrest of Sachin, Ranatunga and referee Ebrahim for calling off the match against his and spectators’ right to watch the match. The captains later agreed to play a 25-over exhibition match for the big crowd that turned up.

Sri Lanka posted 180/8 in the restricted 25 overs after batting first while India ended up with 178/7 in the chase falling three runs short of the target. Sachin and Mohammad Azharuddin did not bat in the game to give a chance to VVS Laxman and Kanitkar. In fact, Sourav Ganguly and Navjot Singh Sidhu too batted only after they lost half the side. Another ODI between India and Sri Lanka was called off due to unsafe pitch played on 27th December 2009 at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla.