India vs Bangladesh: Rajkot pitch expected to offer a run-fest

It’s been that sort of a year, ain’t it? Wherever Team India are scheduled to play a match, the talk leading into the fixture is more on around the climatic conditions than their team combinations. Call it bad scheduling or just plain bad luck! Its been the case throughout the year.

After the hazardous Delhi air and the resultant smog hogged all the headlines in the build-up to the first T20I against Bangladesh, it is now time for Cyclone Maha to take all the limelight. With India set to host Bangladesh for the second T20I in Rajkot, Cyclone Maha is threatening to have its say on match day.

‘Track offers true bounce’

Rajkot has generally been a safe haven for batsmen with the track offering true bounce and minimal sideways movement. According to a report published in Times of India, the pitch is devoid of grass and promises to be a run-fest during the second T20I.

However, persistent rains in the build-up to the gamer could change the nature of pitch substantially. Speaking to TOI, groundsman Mansukhbhai Terraiya alluded that the pitch has been completely covered considering the forecast of heavy rain.

Rain might change the nature of pitch

However, with the Cyclone weakening in the past few days, the officials at the Saurashtra Cricket Association are hopeful of having a game on the 7th, citing that if the rain does not play a major hindrance, they have good enough drainage facilities to handle the situation and get on with the game.

“If we have light showers in the morning of the match day, but there is no rain in the later part of the day, we are confident of having a match. We have very good drainage facility and an experienced ground staff who are capable of handling any emergency. We are just praying the rain is not too severe,”  Himanshu Shah, secretary SCA, told.

One of the major issues behind the struggles of Indian batsmen in the last game was the slow and sluggish nature of the pitch. They could be faced with the same issue if the rain continues to lash out in Rajkot.

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