The first T20I between India and Sri Lanka at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati was abandoned without a ball bowled due to damp patches on the either side of the pitch on Sunday. Earlier, the Indian skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bowl but the start was delayed due to rain. Even after the rain had stopped the play couldn't start as water had seeped on to the pitch, creating damp patches on both the ends of the pitch. The groundsmen tried everything to get the pitch match-ready but failed. Finally, the umpires decided to call off the game after their final inspection at 9:30 PM IST. The second T20I will be played at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore on January 7.
Highlights Between India vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I, straight from Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
- 22:11 (IST)Thank You for joining us! Till next time bye!Thank you for tuning in to our first live coverage of the year. Sad that it ended this way but tension not we will be back when these two sides meet in the second T20I on Tuesday. Don't forget to join us then.
- 21:57 (IST)Match abandoned due to damp patches!The first T20I has been abandoned due to damp patches on the pitch.
- 21:50 (IST)Still waiting for final word!We are three minutes past the final cut-off time but there is still no official word from the umpires.
- 21:45 (IST)One minute to go!We are just one minute away from the final cut-off time and the umpires are yet to give their final verdict.
- 21:40 (IST)Final inspection is over!The umpires are walking on to the field for the final inspection. The inspection is over and we are awaiting a word from the match officials which we shall have any time now.
- 21:13 (IST)Next inspection at 9:30 PM IST!The official word from the middle is that the next inspection will happen at 9:30PM IST.
- 21:07 (IST)9:46 PM IST cut-off time for five-over contest!The umpires have left the ground after their inspection and we don't have any official verdict as of now. We have just learnt that 9:46 PM IST is the cut-off time for a five-over contest.
- 21:04 (IST)Damp patches on pitch cause of concern!We have reached the inspection time and the visuals from the ground are not something you see on daily basis. The groundsmen are using hair dryer and steam iron to dry up the wet patches on the pitch.
- 21:01 (IST)Electric atmosphere in Guwahati!While the rain is playing the hide and seek, the spectators have kept the atmosphere electric in the stadium. They are on their feet and are singing Vande Matram and in unison. Extraordinary sight in Guwahati! This crowd deserves a game.
- 20:30 (IST)Rain has stopped!The rain has stopped and the groundsmen have started their work of drying the outfield as well as the pitch. Just a reminder -- the inspection will take place at 9:00 PM IST.
- 20:15 (IST)Rain has returned!Just when the vacuum cleaner was doing its work of drying the damp patches on the pitch, the rain has returned and we can see groundstaff bringing back covers on.
- 20:09 (IST)Vacuum drier in action!Groundstaff has brought a vacuum drier to dry up the damp patches on the pitch. Will it be helpful...we shall find out in due course!
- 20:08 (IST)Clock is ticking and we'll lose overs for sure!We will not only have a delayed start but will also lose overs for sure.
- 20:04 (IST)Inspection shifted to 9:00 PM IST!The water from the covers has seeped onto the pitch and Kohli is not very happy with that. He has pointed that out to the umpires. The pitch is not ready due to the above-mentioned reason and now we are being informed the inspection has been shifted to 9:00 PM IST.
- 19:59 (IST)Next inspection at 8:15PM IST!Covers are off from the main pitch and three match officials are having a look at it. They are even having a chat with the groundstaff. Indian skipper Virat Kohli is also out in the middle and is having a word with the umpires. The next inspection will be at 8:15 PM IST.
- 19:51 (IST)Rain has stopped! Umpires are out for inspection!The rain has stopped completely and the match officials are walking out in the middle for the inspection. The covers are still on though -- but wait as I type the groundsmen are taking the covers off one by one.
- 19:43 (IST)Rain pours steadily!The rain needs to stops completely for the play to start but it hasn't stopped yet, so we have other choice but to keep waiting patiently.
- 19:34 (IST)Groundsmen are working tirelessly!The latest update from the middle is that the rain is not that heavy and the groundsmen have taken the centre stage and are working tirelessly to get the ground match-ready.
- 19:24 (IST)Supersopper working at full-throttle!Supersopper is also working at full-throttle to dry up the outfield and get the game going.
- 19:20 (IST)Rain intensity has reduced!The rain has dropped intensity but hasn't stopped completely yet. The groundsmen are out in the middle to do their work.
- 18:55 (IST)Heavy rain in Guwahati!It's raining heavily in Guwahati and groundsmen are running in to cover the area around the pitch. The spectators are also rushing to take shelter. This is not a passing drizzle and we will have a delayed start.
- 18:55 (IST)Heavy rain in Guwahati!It's raining heavily in Guwahati and groundsmen are running in to cover the area around the pitch. The spectators are also rushing to take shelter.
- 18:41 (IST)Sri Lanka Playing XI!Sri Lanka Playing XI: Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera (wk), Oshada Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Lasith Malinga (capt)
- 18:39 (IST)India's Playing XI!Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (capt), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini, Jasprit Bumrah.
- 18:31 (IST)India win toss, opt to bowl!India skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bowl against Sri Lanka in Guwahati.
- 18:30 (IST)Pitch report!Sunil Gavaskar in his pitch report said it's not a pretty looking pitch as it has lots of cracks on it which will help the spinners. He also reckons that the batsman will not find it that easy to bat on because of the very same reason. Keeping dew in mind, he expects whoever wins the toss will elect to bowl.
- 18:21 (IST)First bilateral T20I series in two years!These two last sides haven't played a bilateral T20I series since March 2018. The last time they faced each other was in a triangular series Nidhas Trophy' -- the final of which is remembered for Dinesh Karthik's late power-hitting. Can this series create the same magic... we will have to wait and watch.
- 18:12 (IST)Recent performances!If we go by the head to head stats between these two sides, India are the overwhelming favourites to win the series. India defeated the West Indies 2-1 in the last T20I series while Sri Lanka lost 0-3 to Australia away from home. However, that doesn't present a clear picture of their potential as Sri Lanka's second-string side completed a clean sweep over Pakistan in their own backyard, before the Australia series, meaning the visitors, playing at full-throttle, are more than capable of staging an upset.
- 17:42 (IST)Focus on comeback stars!India's premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is making a comeback after a long gap of four months while opener Shikhar Dhawan is also returning after missing last couple of series against the West Indies. With India will looking to finalise their team combination for the all-important T20 World Cup, the focus certainly will be on these two players.
- 17:36 (IST)Pitch and weather report!The sky is expected to remain clear and considering the role dew might play in the later stages of the game, both the teams will look to chase down the total. The pitch is ideal for a high-scoring contest -- at least this is what skipper Virat Kohli thinks.
- 17:20 (IST)Kohli amazed by fan's creativity!Virat Kohli got a beautiful surprise from his special fan who had created his portrait using old mobile phones. The India skipper was completely mesmerised by his creativity. Click here to read the full story.
- 17:15 (IST)Virat Kohli doing his usual stuff!India skipper Virat Kohli, after spending the winter break with wife Anushka Sharma in Switzerland is back to his normal duties. In the build-up to the first series of the year, he spent hours practicing in the nets.
- 17:06 (IST)T20I Head to Head!These two teams have faced each other 16 times in the shortest format and India have won the majority of those with 11 wins, while Sri Lanka have only five wins to their name.
- 17:02 (IST)Hello and welcome!Hello and welcome to the live blog of the first T20I between India and Sri Lanka, straight from Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.
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