‘Chaaro taraf kohra hi kohra’ – Fans react as fog halts India vs New Zealand ODI World Cup clash in Dharamsala

The 21st match of the ODI World Cup 2023 witnessed a brief interruption at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala during the encounter between India and New Zealand on Sunday, October 22. It was a hazy Sunday that left cricket fans and players in awe of nature’s unpredictability.

As the two teams were battling out, a sudden onset of haze blanketed the picturesque stadium nestled in the hills of Dharamsala. The dense fog posed a challenge to visibility, causing a momentary pause in the game. Umpires were left with no choice but to halt proceedings for a few minutes as they closely monitored the conditions. 

The scenic beauty of the Dharamsala cricket ground, usually a visual treat, was obscured by this natural phenomenon. The nature proved to be a temporary obstruction. However, after a few minutes, the action was continued as both teams aimed to conquer not only their opponents but also the ever-changing elements, making this World Cup match in Dharamsala a memorable chapter in the tournament’s history.

India were on 100/2 while chasing a target of 273 runs before the play got stopped due to the fog. The Indian cricket team were given a solid start from the openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill who stitched a 71-run stand for the first wicket. However, both were dismissed later by Lockie Ferguson.

Brilliant bowling performance by India

Earlier, India won the toss and, opting to field first, made the right decision as their fast bowlers delivered an outstanding performance during the powerplay, dismissing two New Zealand batsmen for just 19 runs. Although it seemed like the Blackcaps’ batting order might collapse, this didn’t occur thanks to Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell‘s resilient partnership.

Unfortunately, the Indian fielders allowed both Kiwi batsmen to settle on the pitch by dropping their catches on multiple occasions. Mitchell and Ravindra put together a substantial 159-run partnership for the third wicket. However, in the 34th over, Mohammed Shami broke through, removing Ravindra after he had scored 75 runs.

Mitchell held his ground at one end, but he lacked support from the other batsmen. Shami returned for his final spell and secured a five-wicket haul. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj maintained a firm grip on the game, preventing the Kiwi batsmen from making significant progress. The innings witnessed significant fluctuations, starting at 19 for 2, reaching 178 for 3, and ultimately concluding at 273 all-out.

Here’s how fans reacted:

https://twitter.com/sarcastic_goat/status/1716094262721548740