Rain gods have their eye on the India v Sri Lanka 1st Test in Kolkata

The 1st Test match between India and Sri Lanka is under the threat of rain. As per the weather reports, showers has been predicted on November 16, the day India’s 1st Test match against Sri Lanka rolls out in Kolkata. The iconic ground had faced severe drainage and outfield issues in the past. A few years back, one of the IPL matches had to be called off due to the lack of proper drainage facility.

Apart from that, a T20I match between India and South Africa had to be abandoned due to wet outfield. But once former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly stepped in as the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal, certain changed were witnessed.

Ganguly creates an impact

Ganguly brought in the ‘hover cover’ (a pitch cover) from England. Changes were made to avoid waterlogging. The board also roped in two more super soppers. Rain almost played a spoil-sport during the game against Australia, earlier this year; but it failed to damper the scenes.

“The sky over Calcutta will remain overcast from Wednesday to Friday under the impact of a well-marked low-pressure area that is making its way up the Bay of Bengal along the Indian coast,” The Telegraph quoted an official in the weather department as saying.

Rain is not a threat: Das

CAB ground committee head Debabrata Das had told IANS that they are not much worried about the showers, as even if it rains for four hours then the water will be drained out in about 20 minutes. “We have brought in machines which can absorb water that is left on the pitch cover. We have all the modern equipment which are necessary now, including zero-point grass cutters and super soppers.”

India will take on Sri Lanka in the first of the three-Test matches at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, tomorrow onwards. Virat Kohli’s Indian side will look to continue their record-breaking form while the visitors will try to register their maiden Test win on Indian soil.