Cold Play at Kotla: Tamil Nadu Ranji Trophy cricketers climate Delhi winter – in monkey caps

BAGGY GREEN for the Aussies, maroon solar hat for the West Indians — cricketers put on their headgear with satisfaction, as badges of honour. Though, typically, like on Tuesday on the freezing Feroz Shah Kotla, the explanations have been extra sensible.

With the minimal temperature dropping to five.6 levels Celsius, and the nationwide capital getting formally colder than Dehradun, Dharamshala and Nainital, the stadium witnessed a uncommon sight: cricketers from Tamil Nadu sporting monkey caps within the discipline, aside from a number of layers of clothes, for his or her third-round away Ranji Trophy recreation in opposition to hosts Delhi.

From the time the visiting staff landed within the capital, the main target has not simply been on the opposition. They arrived right here with an eye fixed on the nippiness and have been well-equipped to sort out it, particularly on condition that the winter temperatures again in Chennai don’t go under the mid-twenties, even at evening.

The two observe periods they’d earlier than the sport on the Feroz Shah Kotla began round 12 pm. However, the 9.30 am begin on Day 1 on the Kotla proved to be a bit an excessive amount of for some gamers, particularly seamer L Vignesh, who bowled together with his monkey cap on.

Tamil Nadu bowler Lakshminarayanan Vignesh throughout the first day of Ranji Trophy match in opposition to Delhi, in New Delhi, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022. (PTI Photo)

“I’ve experienced cold weather before, but today was totally different because there was this chill breeze that was blowing across. I’ve played before at Dharamsala, but it was manageable. But here, it was just too much to handle. (By wearing a monkey cap) I knew that I would be giving content to meme makers, and even some of the guys (teammates) were pulling my leg. But I was like, I need this because I couldn’t manage,” Vignesh advised The Indian Express.

On Tuesday, the impact of Delhi’s winter was clearly seen on the stadium. Dense fog blotted out the solar and the match was stopped for 5-7 minutes after only one over was bowled. Delhi openers Anuj Rawat and Dhruv Shorey spoke to the umpires after the primary over and the adjudicators took them off the sphere.

The situations, although, didn’t dent 33-year-old Vignesh as he accounted for the wickets of Rawat and Yash Dhull in his first spell to rock Delhi early. While Washington Sundar was the opposite TN participant to sport a monkey cap, the remaining resorted handy heaters.

“You needed to be warm to bowl normally and when I took the field, I couldn’t even feel my fingers and this despite me wearing a skinner, thermal wear, a T-shirt, the jersey, and the sweater. And at the other end we had Sandy (Sandeep Warrier) who was just bowling with his jersey,” Vignesh mentioned.

Tamil Nadu bowlers Lakshminarayanan Vignesh, Vijay Shankar, Sandeep Warrier and Washington Sundar throughout the finish of first day of Ranji Trophy match in opposition to Delhi, in New Delhi, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022. (PTI Photo)

“Although I got two wickets, I couldn’t even feel the ball in my hand. For instance, I had to use my shoulder more than I usually do and had to make a few adjustments, especially with regards to how I load up to the crease. If I didn’t use my shoulder enough, I would have probably bowled more half-volleys,” he mentioned.

Even the in-form Delhi opener Shorey, who scored a affected person half-century (66), mentioned the situations have been difficult for the batsmen. “The conditions were good for bowlers. It was seaming a bit in the morning but as the day progressed, it got better,” mentioned Shorey, who placed on 105 runs for the third wicket with Jonty Sidhu (57).

It was a great toss for Tamil Nadu skipper Baba Indrajith to win as he put Delhi into bat. In the morning, the ball was nonetheless doing a bit and Vignesh — who swings the ball each methods — made essentially the most of it.

Just earlier than the tea break, Vignesh, together with his woollen headgear on, bagged the prized wicket of Shorey, who received undone by a great outswinger. The mercury dipped additional within the remaining session and dangerous mild pressured the umpires to declare the top of the day’s play with Delhi tottering at 212 for six at stumps.

Tamil Nadu, of their monkey caps, had weathered the Delhi winter.