By AFP
Dubai: As the much-anticipated India-Pakistan match looms, it’s not just the strategies and playing XI that will determine the outcome. Weather conditions could play a decisive role, with dew and fog raising the stakes for both teams. In a contest where every moment counts, the toss may prove to be as crucial as the performance on the field.
The impact of weather on India-Pakistan clash
In a city where the heat and humidity often dictate the pace of play, the weather has become a hidden player in this intense rivalry. While the Indian and Pakistani teams are focusing on their strategies, there’s an unpredictable factor in the mix: dew. Its presence or absence could shift the balance, making the toss a game-changer. Shubman Gill, India’s vice-captain, emphasised the significance of the dew factor, noting how it can put extra pressure on the team batting second.
“We have seen that dew hasn’t come that much. If dew comes, then the toss is very important in a 50-over match. If we don’t get dew, then it won’t make a big difference. It is a big match, and if we don’t get dew, then I think the team batting second will be under more pressure. The team that handles pressure will have a better chance of winning,” Gill told the media on Saturday.
Weather forecast raises the stakes
However, things could be different on Sunday during the blockbuster match, as the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) issued red and yellow fog weather alerts across parts of the country this morning.
“Partly cloudy skies to become cloudy overnight, with a probability of light rainfall over some northern areas and an increase in temperatures on Monday morning,” the Met Office bulletin stated. “The highest temperatures today are expected to be between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius, while temperature lows will range between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius over coastal and island areas.”
The variation in temperatures could lead to dew, making the toss a crucial factor in the India-Pakistan clash. India’s loss to Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup opener was partly attributed to the presence of dew, which limited the Indian bowlers’ ability to make an impact. Defending champions Pakistan are now in a must-win situation after losing their opener to New Zealand, and they will be hoping for the same weather conditions to tilt the odds in their favour.
Pakistan players react after their thumping win over India in the Twenty20 World Cup clash in 2021.
Pakistan players react after their thumping win over India in the Twenty20 World Cup clash in 2021.
Virendra Saklani/Gulf News Archives
It’s about handling pressure
As both teams prepare for one of the most high-stakes matches in cricket, the weather could turn out to be the ultimate wildcard. Whether dew falls or fog rolls in, the side that handles the pressure will have the best chance of victory. With so much riding on the outcome, the toss might just be a
