IND v BAN 2019: Rajkot to serve batting strip for second T20I amid rain threat

Team India are trailing by 1-0 in the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh.

Team India will look to bounce back in the second T20I in Rajkot | Getty

Rajkot has the history of serving batting-friendly pitches and the trend is unlikely to change in the second T20I between India and Bangladesh on Thursday (November 7).

As per a report in TOI, the pitch is almost devoid of grass and promises to be full of runs. Moreover, groundsman Mansukhbhai Terraiya spoke to the same newspaper and said the pitch has been fully covered since the city is likely to receive heavy downpour on Wednesday and Thursday due to cyclonic impact on the coast.

Read Also: Team India keen to make a fresh start in second T20I, says Yuzvendra Chahal

If the weather prediction of heavy rain in next two days holds true, the pitch condition might change entirely.

Meanwhile, Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) officials are hoping the rainfall will not be too stern as the cyclone has reportedly weakened.

"If we have light showers in the morning of the match day, but there is no rain in the later part of the day, we are confident of having a match," Himanshu Shah, secretary SCA, told TOI.

"We have very good drainage facility and an experienced ground staff who are capable of handling any emergency. We are just praying the rain is not too severe," he added.

In case of heavy rains, the outfield will get slow and scoring runs will not be easy.

"Hitting boundaries would become difficult in such a situation as the ball may not travel very fast in the outfield,'' groundsman Terraiya said.

Having won the first T20I in Delhi, Bangladesh are leading the three-match series 1-0.

(With TOI inputs)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 06 Nov, 2019

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