Harsha Bhogle. (Photo Source: Twitter)
India and England are now gearing up to cross swords in the fifth and final Test at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala, starting on March 7. Notably, the Rohit Sharma-led side took an unassailable lead of 3-1 following a convincing five-wicket win in the previous encounter in Ranchi.
The stadium in Dharamsala is a magnificent location that is unique in India as it is located at an elevation of 1,457 meters above sea level with snow-capped Himalayan mountains in the backdrop. To get to Dharamsala, one must travel across high terrain, and the harsh winters, which bring rain and snow, making it difficult to schedule regular matches. Now, Harsha Bhogle, a noted commentator and broadcaster for the ongoing series, has expressed concerns over the weather conditions at the venue ahead of the much-awaited clash between India and England.
Also read: IND vs ENG: Jasprit Bumrah set to feature in Dharamshala Test, India to make changes in squad after series win
Bhogle took to X (formerly Twitter) and shared the weather forecast of venue city on March 7. “I am due to go to Dharamshala in a week. I checked the forecast today, and just reading that makes me shiver. Max temperature forecast for March 07 (at this stage, hopefully it will change) is 10°. Temperature forecast at 7 am is 2°! Snow??” Bhogle captioned the post.
See Harsha Bhogle’s post:
I am due to go to Dharamshala in a week. I checked the forecast today and just reading that makes me shiver. Max temperature forecast for March 07 (at this stage, hopefully it will change) is 10°. Temperature forecast at 7 am is 2°!
Snow?? pic.twitter.com/8H5JNMQF9n
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 27, 2024
It is noteworthy to mention that the temperatures in Northern part of the country have been challenging for cricket fixtures of late. During the recent Ranji Trophy 2024 fixtures, almost all the games during the tournament were severely affected by bad light and fog due to extreme weather conditions. And thus, Bhogle’s concern may well be spot on.
HPCA installs new ryegrass on outfield of Dharamshala
In a recent development ahead of the all-important clash. The HPCA has recently reinstalled new grass on the outfield in Dharamshala to ensure the smooth running of the final Test between India and England. The state association has brought in the special Ryegrass, which is weather-resistant and is unlikely to cause any trouble for the players on both teams during fielding responsibilities.
Also read: India maintain second spot on WTC table after Ranchi win, England languishing at eighth
New ryegrass in the outfield at the Dharamshala Stadium ahead of the 5th Test. pic.twitter.com/uHosJAt7qB
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 28, 2024
This recent development would be a relief for the HPCA and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This is due to the fact that the Indian cricket governing body would not have wanted to replicate the situation in the Australian series when it was obliged to move the third Test to Indore with slight time for rearrangements and logistics.