A significant technical glitch caused embarrassment to the BCCI when one of the floodlights stopped working during the second ODI between India and England at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday.
The match was halted for approximately 35 minutes when a floodlight near the clock tower malfunctioned whilst India were comfortably positioned at 48 without loss after 6.1 overs, pursuing a target of 305 runs.
The initial problem began at approximately 6:15 PM when some floodlights temporarily went out but were quickly restored as England’s Saqib Mahmood prepared to bowl to Rohit Sharma.
Shortly after, a complete blackout of the lights forced the players to leave the field. The failure occurred in one of the eight floodlights near the clock tower.
At the time of interruption, Rohit was playing confidently with 29 runs off 18 balls, including three sixes and a four. His partner Shubman Gill had scored 17 runs from 19 balls with three boundaries.
The players waited for five minutes before leaving the field. The 45,000-strong crowd turned the moment into a celebration, dancing to music playing through the stadium speakers.
The stadium management encouraged fans to use their phone flashlights, creating a unique atmosphere during the interruption.
The Orissa Cricket Association (OCA), hosting its first ODI in more than four years, implemented strict security measures but struggled with crowd control. Police had to use force to manage unruly fans at the gates.
The chaos extended into the press box, where unauthorised people gained entry.
The day before the match, more than 25,000 fans attended India’s practice session after the OCA permitted free entry.
