 The BCCI has been dealt an embarrassing blow by the pitch at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi which ensured that the game between India and Sri Lanka
had to be abandoned. The series was won by India by a margin of 3-1, but the victory
was soured by the entire pitch fiasco.
The day began with the Indian captain MS Dhoni winning the toss and expectedly
electing to field first. It was a day game and because it was winters in Delhi,
the pitch had enough moisture in it for the captain to choose that option.
It was immediately vindicated as Zaheer Khan got one to move into Upul
Tharanga and bowled him neck and crop. The batsman had been in great touch before
this game, but his first ball dismissal would have caused enough issues for
the batsmen to follow.
After this, the second wicket pair of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sanath
Jayasuriya did try to settle down, but there was enough there in the pitch to
ensure that the batting was a struggle. The ball bounced up on them disconcertingly,
whereas some others kissed the ground and scooted through to the wicket-keeper.
Commendably, the wicket-keeper Dhoni did not give away a single bye in the whole
innings.
However, as it turned out, the innings lasted all of 23.3 overs. By that time
the Sri Lankan had lost half their side for 83, but had been smacked
on their body on at least a dozen occasions. Dilshan was served a blow on his
elbow that made even the bowlers cringe while the others kept getting uncomfortable.
The end came in the 24th over when the debutant Sudeep Tyagi served
up a good length delivery that bounced and went over the batsmen's head and
made Dhoni jump over to collect it. That was it, for Sangakkara. He called the
batsmen to talk to the umpires, and soon joined the fray. Both Sangakkara and
Dhoni were then seen talking with the umpires even as the others looked on.
Match referee Alan Hurst soon joined the discussion and the play was
suspended for some time.
The discussion continued in the referee's room, and other alternatives like
playing a reduced game on an adjacent pitch were considered. However, in the
end, much to the chagrin of those in the ground, the match was called off as
the pitch was considered as too dangerous for the batsmen to bat on.
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