Persistent rain caused major disruptions during the second Test between India and Bangladesh at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. The match saw two full days washed out, sparking criticism over Kanpur's suitability as a Test venue due to its outdated drainage system. In response, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla defended the decision to host the Test in Kanpur, emphasizing the city's cricketing heritage and promising upcoming upgrades to improve infrastructure.

Rain and infrastructure issues cause frustration

The second Test faced a washout due to continuous rain, with only 35 overs bowled in the first three days. Despite no significant rainfall on Sunday and a brief appearance of the sun, a wet outfield prevented play from resuming. Kanpur's Green Park Stadium, which has been a key venue for Indian cricket for over 80 years, lacks modern drainage systems. Three super soppers were deployed to dry the outfield, but they couldn’t overcome the weather challenges.

Shukla responded to the growing criticism, stating, “This is the first time in 80 years that it has rained so much that we were not able to host the match for two days. History suggests no match has ever been abandoned here before.” He acknowledged the stadium's infrastructure issues but assured that upgrades were on the way, pointing out that modern technologies for water management are now available and being implemented in newer stadiums like those in Lucknow and Varanasi.

Defending Kanpur's legacy and the rotation policy

Shukla also addressed the broader controversy over whether Kanpur should continue to host Test matches, especially given Virat Kohli's past suggestion that India should limit Test matches to five major centres. Shukla argued that Kanpur, which is one of India's oldest cricketing venues, holds historical importance and should remain a key part of the rotation policy.

“Kanpur is a permanent Test centre, just like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai. We have to consider several factors, including our rotation policy. India now has many venues, and we must give all cities a chance to host Test matches,” Shukla explained. He further added that hosting Test matches in smaller cities helps keep fans engaged, citing the strong turnout in Kanpur despite the rain.

Shukla also noted that smaller venues have significant infrastructure and deserve the opportunity to host important games, particularly to keep fan interest alive in areas outside the major cities. “The number of spectators may decline in certain cities because people are used to watching shorter formats like T20 and one-day matches. But here in Kanpur, the crowd turnout proves there is still an appetite for Test cricket in these regions,” Shukla stated.

ECB BCCI pic.twitter.com/wc15C6joYQ

— ` (@chixxsays) September 29, 2024

In left side this image from ECB and right side from BCCI we are the richest cricket board but still we promote gutkha in our stadium and we don't have necessary items to cover full ground within a month 2 match going to be abended #indvsban #BCCI pic.twitter.com/5OWuh6Mn9u

— The Cricket Hall (@bhai_cric_he) September 29, 2024

See Also: Virat Kohli breaks another record as Bangladesh trail by 26 runs at Kanpur

In the same media interaction, Shukla hinted that the upcoming IPL auction might be held overseas, similar to how it was conducted in Dubai previously. “We are contemplating both options—whether to hold it in India or abroad. Taking cricket to an overseas audience is important to attract international fans,” he said, leaving open the possibility of hosting the event abroad again.

On Day 5 of the India vs Bangladesh Test in Kanpur, Ravindra Jadeja achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming the fastest player from India and the continent to complete the double of 3000 runs and 300 wickets in Test cricket. He joins Kapil Dev and Ravichandran Ashwin in this elite club but reached the feat in fewer games compared to them.

Meanwhile, India intensified its efforts to secure a result, with Jasprit Bumrah dismissing Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 9, leaving Bangladesh 8 wickets down. Mushfiqur Rahim and Taijul Islam now face the pressure to stabilize their innings, but Indian bowlers, led by Rohit Sharma's tactical captaincy, are pushing for quick wickets to wrap up the match. Despite two days of rain, India’s batting and bowling efforts on Day 4 kept the game alive with hopes for a positive outcome.

As the controversy surrounding the rain-affected match continues, Shukla's remarks underline the BCCI’s commitment to preserving the legacy of historic venues like Kanpur while balancing modern demands for upgraded facilities. With promises of improvements to the infrastructure, it remains to be seen how Kanpur's role as a Test centre will evolve in the future.