Cuttack
The second One Day International (ODI) between India and England at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, was briefly stopped on Sunday after one of the floodlights failed during India’s innings. The match was paused in the seventh over, just as Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill were building a solid start in their chase of 305 runs. The sudden power failure frustrated players and fans, with umpires asking both teams to leave the field until the issue was fixed.
Pakistan Fans Troll BCCI Over Floodlight Issue
The floodlight failure soon became a hot topic on social media, with many criticizing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for poor stadium maintenance. Adding fuel to the fire, Pakistan cricket fans took the opportunity to hit back at India, after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was mocked online a day earlier for a similar issue.
During a tri-series match between New Zealand and Pakistan, Kiwi batter Rachin Ravindra got hit on the forehead while fielding. He lost sight of the ball in the bright LED floodlights at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, leading to questions about the stadium’s lighting system. Pakistan was heavily criticized for the incident, but after the Cuttack floodlight failure, Pakistan fans sarcastically offered to “donate funds” to India for better stadium infrastructure.
Barabati Stadium’s Old Infrastructure Needs an Upgrade
The Barabati Stadium is one of India’s oldest cricket venues, but its infrastructure is outdated. Odisha Cricket Association’s acting president, Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, admitted that the stadium needs major renovations.
🔹 “This stadium was supposed to be upgraded. We have been in talks with the government to improve the facilities,” Mohanty told The Indian Express.
🔹 “BCCI will help with infrastructure funding, but full renovation needs government support,” he added.
The state government is considering building a new sports facility, while the Odisha Cricket Association wants to modernize Barabati Stadium instead of letting it go unused for most of the year.
BCCI Faces More Questions Over Stadium Maintenance
This floodlight failure raises concerns about India’s stadium infrastructure. While India has some world-class cricket venues, older stadiums like Barabati still need upgrades.
With big tournaments like the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and the 2028 ICC T20 World Cup coming up, the BCCI must invest in improving stadium facilities to prevent such issues in future international matches.
India may have won the match by four wickets, but the floodlight failure has sparked a debate that BCCI cannot ignore.
