India, West Indies open five-match T20 series at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow today
Water has collected around the stadium after heavy rain, but the ground is dry and the chance of rain during the match is said to be very low.
The first match of the five-match T20 series between India and the West Indies will be played at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow today. Both teams will want to start with a win. The Indian team has recently returned after winning a gold medal at the Asian Games and its confidence is high.
The West Indies, on the other hand, have set a record by chasing a target of more than 350 runs in One-Day Internationals. The Caribbean players will be in high spirits, so the contest between the two sides is expected to be a close one.
India's previous T20 match in Lucknow drew a lot of attention. In that match at the Ekana Stadium, New Zealand were bowled out for 99. Even so, India took 119 balls to reach the target of 100. The Indian team eventually won by six wickets. This time, however, Lucknow could see a high-scoring match.
A few days before the match, heavy rain in Lucknow and north India raised the water level of the Gomti river. Water has collected in some areas around the stadium. However, the ground is well maintained for drainage, so the field is completely dry. This will not cause any trouble during the match. The threat of rain is still being mentioned, but experts say the chances are very slim.
Light rain is possible in Lucknow on Tuesday, but the sky is expected to clear completely by evening. The chance of rain is almost nil. Humidity is very high, though, and dew may fall at night. Dew troubles bowlers and fielders, so the team that wins the toss may choose to bowl first. In the ODI series between India and the West Indies, all three matches were won by the team chasing.
The Lucknow pitch may help the fast bowlers in the early overs. Light rain is also possible before the match. If it rains, the fast bowlers could get swing with the new ball. But big shots will be easier to play with the old ball, and around 200 runs are likely in this match too. Very few runs were scored at this ground last time, so fans are keen to see how many will be scored this time.
