Cricket fans faced travel difficulties around the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow ahead of the opening T20I between India and the West Indies. Rising water levels in the Gomti River left several areas waterlogged, while traffic movement through the underpass near Gate 2 had to be stopped.
India will begin the upcoming five-match T20I series on Tuesday after winning gold at the 2026 Asian Games. Shreyas Iyer’s side has also won its last nine T20Is and will aim for a third straight bilateral series whitewash, while the West Indies will look to bounce back after losing the recent ODI series.
Waterlogging Near Ekana Stadium Causes Traffic Problems Ahead of IND vs WI 1st T20I
According to a report by Dainik Jagran, the rising water level of the Gomti River caused knee-deep water around the stadium on Monday. The waterlogging became so severe that vehicles could not use the underpass in front of Gate 2.
Notably, the flooding made it difficult for both pedestrians and drivers to move through the area. In several places, the road and footpath could not be clearly distinguished, while two-wheelers and four-wheelers struggled to pass through the knee-deep water.
Traffic police put up barricades to stop vehicles from entering the underpass and diverted them through alternative routes. Police personnel remained deployed in the affected areas and helped drivers use safer routes. A journey that normally takes around five minutes took 40 to 45 minutes.
Organizers Face Challenge Ahead Of India-West Indies Match
The waterlogging has increased concerns for the organizers and Lucknow district administration, with a large crowd expected at Ekana Stadium for the India-West Indies T20I. If the water remains around the venue on Tuesday, managing spectator movement and parking could become a bigger challenge.
The situation has also raised questions about the drainage system around the stadium after the heavy rain. Traffic police and the administration will have to manage the increased vehicle movement while ensuring spectators can reach the venue safely.
The match will be the first T20I between the two sides in India since their Super Eight meeting at Eden Gardens during the 2026 T20 World Cup. India won that game with the help of a strong performance from Sanju Samson and went on to qualify for the semi-finals.
Rain Threat and Weather Forecast in Lucknow
Rain also affected the teams’ preparations on Monday, with showers interrupting practice sessions for both India and the West Indies. The ground staff brought out the covers as the weather disrupted outdoor training.
According to the Meteorological Department forecast, Lucknow could see showers and thunderstorms on Tuesday, with a 68% chance of rain and a 41% chance of thunderstorms during the day. Cloud cover is expected to remain around 79%, while humidity could reach nearly 79%.
Conditions are expected to improve by the evening. Around the toss at 6:30 PM IST, the temperature is expected to be around 25°C, with cloud cover dropping to about 44% and the rain probability falling to 10%. However, rain earlier in the day could still affect the outfield and delay the start.
The first T20I will be played on pitch No. 5 at Ekana Stadium, which has a red and black soil mix. Notably, the re-laid pitches produced high-scoring matches during IPL 2026, although the venue can also offer assistance to bowlers.
Also read: Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma nominated for ICC Player of the Month award for September 2026
