Solar Eclipse Affects Ongoing Ranji Trophy Fixtures on December 26

The second day of the Ranji Trophy fixtures in Mumbai and Rajkot among several cities across the country were delayed by at least two hours due to the partial solar eclipse. A greater part of the eclipse was visible in South India. The matches taking place in Mumbai and Rajkot have been affected owing to the celestial event. The Day 2 of the Ranji game between Mumbai and Railways, Uttar Pradesh and Saurashtra were affected.

The usual start time of the Ranji Trophy games is 9:30 AM but with the sunlight set to be partially prevented by the moon, an important decision was taken to postpone the start time of the first session for 17 matches. This includes the previously mentioned fixtures, as per an ABP news report.

It should be noted that the eclipse will be clearly visible for the maximum duration among the Southern states as parts of India witnessed partial Solar Eclipse on December 26. Meanwhile, the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) had confirmed the change in start time to 11:30 in an official press release on Wednesday.

The Saurashtra team had ended the first day’s play at 322/8 against Uttar Pradesh, with Cheteshwar Pujara, Sheldon Jackson and Harvik Desai scoring fifties.

Don’t look at the sun directly with naked eyes: Dr Bhujang Shetty

Dr Bhujang Shetty, ophthalmologist and chairman of the Narayana Nethralaya, while speaking to the Times of India spoke about the impact of the solar eclipse on cricketers as they are taking part in the Ranji Trophy games. He advised not to look at the sun directly with naked eyes as there is a danger of the retina being damaged.

He even stressed that the chances are more especially during the time when the eclipse is at the peak. “If people look at the Sun directly with naked eyes, there is a danger of the retina being damaged. The chances are more during the time when the eclipse is at the maximum.”

It is nothing but a partial eclipse and so the Moon won’t be able to fully cover the Sun. The Moon will be in the center as it blocks the sunlight. The ‘surya grahan’ will start in Odisha, Kerala, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Delhi.

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