Ind v Aus: Rain likely to affect second ODI in Kolkata too

The second ODI between India and Australia here on Thursday could witness another truncated match as the weathermen have not ruled out the possibility of intermittent showers, especially in the evening hours.

Eden Gardens is wrapped in covers following rains on Monday evening. India will face Australia in the second one-day international on Thursday.

The rain gods welcomed the Indian and Australian cricket teams with a bout of shower in the evening as both sides landed here from Chennai on Monday afternoon.

With the weatherman forecasting rain and thunderstorm on the match day of the second one-day international of the five-match ODI series at the Eden Gardens here on Thursday, the second consecutive match of the series faces the prospect of being truncated by the monsoon, which is in its receding phase and generally remains active till the first half of October in this part of the country.

Indian cricketers arrive in Kolkata on Monday.

 

The T20 match between India and South Africa on October 8, 2015 was the last international engagement to be washed out (after two hours of play) at the venue, following which the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) improved the drainage system and procured good quality covers for the ground.

Since the evenings witness rains around this time of the year, the match, for which ticket sales are yet to pick up pace, may pose some tough times for the ground staff.

The groundsmen, under the guidance of curator Sujan Mukherjee, were alert enough to keep the whole ground covered and ready for the upcoming match.

CAB president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly also inspected the conditions and ensured that the ground was protected from Monday's rain.

The two teams, which preferred to take rest on Monday, are scheduled to train at the venue on Tuesday. The Indian team won the first ODI in Chennai to take a 1-0 lead in the series.