Dharamshala : The opening ODI between India and Afghanistan in Dharamsala on Saturday faced major disruption due to persistent rainfall and thunderstorms. The weather conditions forced a delay in the toss, while concerns grew over the possibility of a shortened game or complete washout.
According to weather reports, the Himachal Pradesh city remained under an orange alert, with forecasts predicting heavy showers, thunderstorms and even chances of hail during match hours.
Hourly Forecast Raises Concerns
Reports citing AccuWeather suggested that rain activity was expected through the afternoon, especially during the early stages of the match. Cloud cover, gusty winds and high humidity levels were also likely to affect playing conditions at the HPCA Stadium.
Several media outlets reported that the probability of rain remained high between 1 PM and 4 PM, creating uncertainty around uninterrupted play.
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Match Important For Both Teams
The ODI series marks an important phase for Team India as preparations begin for the 2027 ODI World Cup. The series is also significant because it is the first bilateral ODI series between India and Afghanistan.
Cricket fans were eagerly waiting for the contest, but the poor weather conditions in Dharamsala threatened to overshadow the much-anticipated clash.
Fans Await Improvement In Conditions
Despite the gloomy forecast, spectators and teams remained hopeful that weather conditions would improve later in the day, allowing at least a reduced-overs match to take place.
According to reports by Times of India, authorities and organisers continued monitoring the situation closely as rain interruptions persisted in Dharamsala.
