The third and final Twenty20 International between India and Australia in Hyderabad was the decider of the T20I series with having one match won by each team. But unfortunately, the series has ended on level terms being abandoned.
Despite no rain in the city, the officials decided against having the match and left the 30000 odd fans disappointed. The umpires decided the outfield at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium was unfit for play within an hour of the scheduled start of play.
The two captains Virat Kohli and David Warner, umpires and match officials decided that no play could be possible because of a soft outfield. Hyderabad has seen a lot of rain over the past few days due to which the outfield was constantly wet. The weather has been so overcast and cloudy over the past week or so due to which the sun itself did not come out.
Due to this, in an unusual attempt to dry the outfield, three pedestal fans propped up by plastic chairs were aimed at a particularly wet patch on Thursday. The ground staff worked tirelessly in the hours preceding the match but were unable to get the ground ready in time. The outfield was in such poor condition that the ball itself was sticking into the ground.
Both the players and officials found it hard to walk on the ground. With this result, the three-match T20I series ended 1-1 sharing the trophy with two teams. Hyderabad, which is the home of former IPL champions Sunrisers Hyderabad, had its first-ever T20I ruined by a wet outfield.
A week of heavy rain in Hyderabad has left the outfield a little, umm, spongy. Not sure this is going to dry anything in a hurry #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/ek9syWVZDy
— Martin Smith (@martinsmith9994) October 12, 2017
The toss has been delayed at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. Next inspection at 7 PM IST. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/C3zRLSobI9
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 13, 2017
India won the first T20 by nine wickets in Ranchi while the visitors clinched the second game by eight wickets in Guwahati. Jason Behrendorff was the star of the match in the Guwahati stadium at Barsapara.
After the T20I series, India remains 5th in the T20 rankings while Australia remains in the 6th position. Earlier, India won the five-match one-day international series 4-1. The weather has been one of the main talking points throughout the series as there was a rain threat in all the ODIs and T20Is.
However, all the matches were held without much disturbance with the Duckworth-Lewis method being used only once. Australia heads home to prepare for the Ashes, with the first test in Brisbane starting on November 23.
Team India’s Upcoming Series’:
Whereas the Men in Blue will take on New Zealand in a 3-match ODI series and a 3-match T20I series at home which begins on October 22. Following the New Zealand series, India will take on Sri Lanka in three Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is which begins on 16 November.
India’s extended home season will finally end at the beginning of 2018 when India will travel to South Africa for three Tests, six ODIs, and three T20Is.
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