The Indian cricket team faced a weather-related hurdle as heavy rainfall in Colombo compelled the players to train indoors in preparation for their critical Asia Cup Super 4s match against Pakistan. The relentless rain disrupted the team’s practice schedule, prompting them to shift their training to the Gamini Dissanayake Indoor Cricket Nets at the Nondescripts Cricket Club.
Despite the weather challenges, top Indian players, including Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, and KL Rahul, along with others, engaged in intense practice sessions under the watchful eye of the coaching staff. In light of the previous rain-affected match between the arch-rivals, where the second innings couldn’t even commence, both teams are eager to make the most of the remaining fixtures in the tournament.
The indoor practice session aimed to fine-tune the Indian batters’ skills, particularly against left-arm pacers, after Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi’s early breakthroughs in their previous encounter. The Indian team’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, batting coach Vikram Rathour, and other specialists organized throwdown sessions to simulate the conditions faced by the players.
Colombo’s Weather Woes:
Colombo, known for its tropical monsoon climate, currently grapples with heavy rainfall. The Weather Channel’s 10-day forecast for the city predicts a high likelihood of thunderstorms, with rain probabilities ranging from 60% to 100%. Temperature-wise, Colombo is expected to witness a range of 76°F to 88°F, with gentle winds blowing at 5 to 10 mph from the southwest. High humidity levels further add to the challenging weather conditions.
Looking Ahead:
The India-Pakistan showdown in the Asia Cup is scheduled for September 10, 2023, at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. However, the weather forecasts indicate a potential for disruptions due to rain. While the Asian Cricket Council has decided to maintain the original schedule, they are optimistic that the weather will improve over the upcoming weekend.
The tournament organizers have wisely incorporated one-day gaps between the India-Pakistan, Sri Lanka-India, and Sri Lanka-Pakistan matches. Furthermore, there is a two-day interval between the last Super Four match and the final scheduled for September 17. While a reserve day has been allocated for the final, the ACC has not yet announced reserve days for the other crucial matches, keeping cricket fans and players on edge as they monitor the weather conditions closely.