Rain has hindered the start of the the second T20I between Team India and Australia which is to be played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur, on Friday (September 23). The toss has been delayed due to the wet outfield from all the overnight rain.
There was a ground inspection at 7pm IST but looking at the ground conditions the umpires have scheduled the next inspection is at 8pm IST.
The two umpires, KN Ananthapadmanabhan and Nitin Menon, are in the middle for the inspection. Fourth umpire Anil Chaudhary is also out there. Meanwhile, the groundstaff is sprinkling some sawdust on one of the wet patches near the boundary line.
Earlier on Thursday, Team India's practice session was also cancelled due to rain.
India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the first match, is expected to walk back in the second T20I, which should help fix the Indian bowling puzzle which is in tatters.
The lack of a deadly death bowler dearly hurt India in their last T20I against Australia, resulting in gifting away a match that was clearly in their own hands. Setting a massive target of 208 for the visitors courtesy of some brilliant batting by Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav, India was soaring to a win but the pacers in charge of the death overs were unable to defend the total.
During their chase, Australia needed 55 from the last four overs but wrapped up the game with four balls still left in the bank. The team were without their main pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who was out of the team despite being in the squad. Bumrah, who has been out of action since the end of the England tour, skipped the Asia Cup due to a back injury.
Pitch report
“Pretty overcast and it is very humid. This pitch looks tacky. Normally teams winning the toss bat first. With the rain around, teams might want to do otherwise. There is a darkish look to the pitch which suggests that the covers have been on. It is dry as well. It looks two-paced as well. The ball will hold up and turn. The par score is 150, and it shouldn't change much,” Ravi Shastri analysed the pitch before the match.
