During the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 match between India and England on Sunday, October 29 at The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, concerns arose regarding the outfield. This came to light when Liam Livingstone took a catch to dismiss Indian skipper Rohit Sharma off Adil Rashid's delivery but left the all-rounder injured.
Rohit's shot against Rashid didn't connect well, and as Livingstone secured the catch at long-on, he injured himself. The outfield at Ekana Stadium seemed to be the culprit, not offering enough cushion for his dive.
For context, the Ekana Stadium's outfield was redone between the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season and the beginning of the World Cup. The pitch had previously faced criticism during the IPL, prompting the renovation.
Earlier in the World Cup, the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala's outfield was also a point of contention. Notable figures like Afghanistan's coach Jonathan Trott and England's Jos Buttler expressed their concerns.
Discussing the game, Rohit showcased his skills with a commendable 87 off 101 balls, even as the rest of the Indian lineup struggled against the English bowlers.
England's Chris Woakes made early inroads, claiming the wickets of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer. David Willey, on the other hand, managed to send Virat Kohli back to the pavilion without scoring, marking Kohli's first World Cup duck.
Rohit and KL Rahul stitched together a 91-run stand before Willey struck again, dismissing Rahul for 39. With most of the top-order back in the pavilion, all eyes are on Suryakumar Yadav to help India surpass the 220-run mark.
The World Cup journeys of England and India have been starkly different. The reigning champions, England, have managed only one win in the tournament, whereas India has tasted victory in all their matches.
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