T20I Series Opener at Barabati Expected to be a High Scoring Encounter

After an intensely fought ODI series between India and Sri Lanka, both teams are set to lock horns in a three-match T20 series starting today. As per reports in the Sportscafe, The Barabati Stadium in Cuttack which is the venue for the opening T20I is expected to produce a 180+ total. The pitch preparation raised severe concerns following the Federation Cup and AIFF Women’s League football matches which were played in the middle of the pitch.

Meanwhile, the security measures have been tightened following the bottle-hurling incident a couple of years back. It was the first T20I game in the venue between India, and South Africa which saw the spectators hurling bottles towards the playing arena as the Men in Blue were bundled out for a meagre 92 runs. Taking a leaf from the incident, the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) made a completely batting friendly wicket for the 2^nd ODI between India and England earlier in the year which saw Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni scoring brilliant centuries for the home team.

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The allocation of this encounter was done 6 months ago but despite that the haphazardness of hosting the series opener came to the fore as it has been left in very poor condition after hosting the Federation Cup, All India Football Federation, Junior Women’s League and Football Association of Odisha (FAO) matches until the end of September.

The matches were being played at the centre wicket which has disturbed the surface. However, the OCA has promised that the topsoil would be changed altogether. Just a couple of days before the T20I series opener the ground was providing a two-paced nature. The OCA has added more clay to the surface to ensure that the covers didn’t open up and used a heavy roller to make the ground match ready.

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“There were enough cracks on the surface which provided uneven bounce and the wicket was two-paced as well. But after the ground staff added extra clay and sufficiently watered it, the pitch is holding up well and looks ready for an international game. Thanks to the last three days of effort and not subjecting it to the sun, the pitch is now expected to be a 180-plus match,” a source was quoted as saying by Sportscafe on the basis of anonymity.

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