India, trailing Bangladesh in the T20I series, may feel a little out of their element, but will be eager to give the neighbours a befitting reply in Rajkot on Thursday. However, the elements are threatening to play spoilsport.

After the smoggy series opener in Delhi, where India seemed poorer than the toxic air in an embarrassing defeat, the second T20I is under a severe cyclonic threat.

Cyclone ‘Maha’ is expected to make a landfall on the Gujarat coast on the day of the match, which could lead to heavy rains.

There was some good news on Tuesday though. As per the India Meteorological Department’s latest forecast, the “extremely severe cyclonic storm ‘Maha’ has weakened into a very severe cyclonic storm”.

“It is very likely to cross Gujarat coast between Diu and Porbandar as a cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph by early hours of 7th November, 2019,” an IMD statement said.

With the match scheduled to commence from 7pm at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot, the organisers, players and fans will keep their fingers crossed hoping that Thursday evening will witness better weather after the cyclone’s landfall early in the morning.

The IMD’s rainfall forecast speaks of “light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places” over the Saurashtra and Gujarat region, including Rajkot, on Wednesday, the eve of the match.

Match day’s rainfall forecast however says “isolated heavy to very heavy falls” over Bhavnagar, Surat, Bharuch, Anand, Ahmedabad, Botad, Vadodara. Therefore, Rajkot can hope for some rain relief at least in the latter half of Thursday.

The Saurashtra Cricket Association is keeping a tab on the weather forecasts. “We are fully prepared to host the game but at the same time we are keeping a close tab on the weather. It is expected that it may rain in the morning on the 7th but the game is in the evening,” a senior Saurashtra Cricket Association official said. There was sunshine on Tuesday morning in Rajkot.

Fresh start

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has said that despite the spotlight being on the youngsters ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup, there is no pressure on the players from the team management

“The 11 that is playing now and the players who are there in the 15-member squad know their roles, it is not like someone is going out after playing one or two matches,” Chahal told reporters on Tuesday.

“A couple of matches can go wrong, but there is no pressure from the management. The only thing is that we shouldn’t repeat the mistakes that we commit in any particular match.”

Chahal said that the team would look to start afresh after being stunned in the opening game of the series by Bangladesh.

“I think we are positive. It is not like we haven’t lost the first match of any series and didn’t go on to win the series. The first match is done, if you think about last match then negatives will come into mind,” Chahal said.

“Before we came here, we have forgotten about that loss and we are making a fresh start and all the 15 players are focused and positive. Hopefully, we will win,” he added.

Asked if there was pressure on the team ahead of the second T20I, Chahal said: “It is not about pressure. It is a three-game series, not a knockout game, so obviously one will win and one will lose, and that day they played better than us.”