India and Australia are gearing up for the highly anticipated fourth T20I match of their bilateral series, set to take place at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur on Friday.
India secured victories in the first two matches in Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram, chasing 209 and defending 235 respectively. However, in the third match in Guwahati, the hosts were unable to clinch the series after Glenn Maxwell’s explosive century helped the Aussies chase down 223 off the final ball of the match.
Despite the players’ readiness, there are concerns about the venue’s preparedness for the upcoming match.
A report from NDTV earlier on Friday revealed a major issue with the stadium: a lack of electricity supply due to an unpaid bill. The stadium reportedly has an outstanding electricity bill of Rs 3.16 crore, pending since 2009. Athletes participating in a half-marathon at the stadium in 2018 discovered the lack of electricity, bringing attention to the overdue dues.
Although a temporary connection has since been installed to provide electricity to the spectators’ gallery and boxes, the floodlights at the stadium will be operated using generators.
Despite the electricity issue, the match between India and Australia is still expected to proceed as planned, as the stadium has hosted three international matches since the electricity supply was cut in 2018. However, any issues with the lights during the game could undoubtedly pose a significant embarrassment for the state association and the BCCI, the world’s richest cricket board.
As the anticipation for the match builds, fans can make their predictions and place bets on the international cricket matches. To find all the latest odds, betting, and cricket scores and fixtures from India, click here. Additionally, be sure to check out the pitch report and records ahead of the India vs. Australia match at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. Bet on India vs. Australia and other cricket matches here!
