Wet Outfield, Toss On Hold
The weather has thrown a spanner in the works in Dharamshala. Ahead of the first one-day international between India and Afghanistan, a heavy downpour swept across the venue, leaving officials unable to carry out the toss at the scheduled hour. A match update issued by the BCCI has confirmed that the toss now stands postponed.
How Long It Poured
The ground was lashed by steady, heavy rain for roughly 30 minutes. There is some respite now, as the intensity has dropped somewhat, but the sky remains heavy with thick, dark clouds. All eyes are on the heavens, with everyone hoping the rain stops completely so the players can finally get out onto the field.
The Original Timeline
As per the schedule, the ODI was due to begin at 1.30 PM, with the toss set for exactly half an hour earlier at 1 PM. The rain, however, upended that plan entirely. The delay was also flagged on Afghanistan's official social media handle.
The much-anticipated opening ODI between Afghanistan and India has been delayed due to rain. 👍
Will There Be Play Today?
There is a glimmer of hope from the weather department, which forecasts that the rain could stop after 2 PM. The bigger comfort is that Dharamshala's ground is known for an excellent drainage system. That means if the rain relents, play could get underway without too much delay even if the outfield was not fully covered.
Kohli Out, Suspense Over Rohit
There is significant news off the field for Team India as well. Virat Kohli was part of the squad picked for this series but has been ruled out after picking up an injury. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma was included by the selectors on the condition that he proves his fitness. That leaves another question hanging over the day — whether Rohit will actually take the field in today's contest.
