Hyderabad: The big question ahead of the deciding T20 International against Australia here on Friday is whether the rain gods will be kind enough to finally relent and allow some cricket. It has been raining incessantly here for the past week. The heavens have opened up like never before in the recent past, making life difficult not only for the citizens but also for t he groundstaff, who have had to battle hard to protect the outfield from damage.
It has been a tough task for curator YL Chandrasekhar but he and his team have done a good job in ensuring minimal damage. The pitch is as good as ever but there are a couple of wet spots in the outfield towards the east end of the ground.
“There will not be much change in the character of the wicket and it will stay true for the entire period. There are two wet patches and we are working on them. We have used a couple of fans to speed up the drying process but it all depends on the weather. We have our fingers crossed. If it doesn’t rain tonight and tomorrow, we will have a full game,” Chandrasekhar told ToI on the eve of the game.
To the delight of the staff and players, the sun was out in all its brilliance on Thursday. It turned out to be a hot day but some dark clouds gathered on the horizon again by evening. The Met department has predicted rain for the next few days and that is not music to the ears of the 30,000-odd fans who hope to see their stars in action.
The Indians were ambushed by left-arm speedster Jason Behrendorff in the previous game. The top-order swung and danced to the tune of the Australian bowler, who used the conditions well to bring his side back into the series. With the sides locked 1-1, there is everything to play for in the decider. Skipper Virat Kohli and his band will be keen to prove that the Guwahati show was just an aberration. Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Kohli will love to give it back to the Australian bowlers, especially Behrendorff.
The Indian bowlers have done well in the series and it remains to be seen if the team management gives left-armer Ashish Nehra, who has announced his retirement from the game after the T20I on November 1, a chance in this game.
The visitors, who were thrashed 1-4 in the preceding ODI series, have a golden chance to leave these shores with a series win. This Australian side may not be in the same class of previous ones but they still have quality players. Hyderabad has been ‘home’ to skipper David Warner and he knows the wicket and conditions here like the back of his hand. The aggressive opener has played a key role for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL in the last few seasons and will be eager to use all that knowledge for one last hurrah.
The Indians though will have something to say about it.
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