BAGGY GREEN for the Aussies, maroon solar hat for the West Indians — cricketers put on their headgear with satisfaction, as badges of honour. Although, typically, like on Tuesday on the freezing Feroz Shah Kotla, the explanations had 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, other than 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 group 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 had been well-equipped to sort out it, particularly on condition that the winter temperatures again in Chennai don’t go beneath the mid-twenties, even at night time.
The 2 observe periods that they had earlier than the sport on the Feroz Shah Kotla began round 12 pm. Nevertheless, 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 along with his monkey cap on.
Tamil Nadu bowler Lakshminarayanan Vignesh through the first day of Ranji Trophy match in opposition to Delhi, in New Delhi, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022. (PTI Picture)
“I’ve skilled chilly climate earlier than, however in the present day was completely completely different as a result of there was this chill breeze that was blowing throughout. I’ve performed earlier than at Dharamsala, nevertheless it was manageable. However right here, it was simply an excessive amount of to deal with. (By carrying a monkey cap) I knew that I might be giving content material to meme makers, and even among the guys (teammates) had been pulling my leg. However I used to be like, I would like this as a result of I couldn’t handle,” Vignesh instructed The Indian Specific.
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 sector.
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. Whereas Washington Sundar was the opposite TN participant to sport a monkey cap, the remainder resorted at hand heaters.
“You wanted to be heat to bowl usually and once I took the sector, I couldn’t even really feel my fingers and this regardless of me carrying a skinner, thermal put on, a T-shirt, the jersey, and the sweater. And on the different finish we had Sandy (Sandeep Warrier) who was simply bowling along with his jersey,” Vignesh mentioned.
Tamil Nadu bowlers Lakshminarayanan Vignesh, Vijay Shankar, Sandeep Warrier and Washington Sundar through the finish of first day of Ranji Trophy match in opposition to Delhi, in New Delhi, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022. (PTI Picture)
“Though I obtained two wickets, I couldn’t even really feel the ball in my hand. As an illustration, I had to make use of my shoulder greater than I normally do and needed to make a couple of changes, particularly as regards to how I load as much as the crease. If I didn’t use my shoulder sufficient, I might have in all probability bowled extra half-volleys,” he mentioned.
Even the in-form Delhi opener Shorey, who scored a affected person half-century (66), mentioned the situations had been difficult for the batsmen. “The situations had been good for bowlers. It was seaming a bit within the morning however because the day progressed, it obtained higher,” mentioned Shorey, who placed on 105 runs for the third wicket with Jonty Sidhu (57).
It was a very good toss for Tamil Nadu skipper Baba Indrajith to win as he put Delhi into bat. Within the morning, the ball was nonetheless doing a bit and Vignesh — who swings the ball each methods — made essentially the most of it.
Simply earlier than the tea break, Vignesh, along with his woollen headgear on, bagged the prized wicket of Shorey, who obtained undone by a very good outswinger. The mercury dipped additional within the ultimate session and unhealthy 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.