A snake was removed from the field of the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati when the second Twenty20 International between India and South Africa was still in progress.
Crazy scenes broke out after a snake was discovered at the Barsapara Stadium on Sunday, the day before India faced South Africa in the second T20I of their three-match series in Guwahati. After the Indian innings’ seventh over, the incident happened, and play was abruptly stopped. At that point, the commentators announced on the radio that play had been halted because a snake was reportedly on the ground. Before the snake emerged on the big screen, the cameras first captured the Indian hitters and South African fielders turning their heads in a certain manner. The grounds crew rushed onto the field to remove the unauthorized guest from the ground. The snake had to be caught and removed by four individuals.
This occurrence is among the strangest ones that have ever ended a match. There have also been other odd occurrences in the past. In Napier, New Zealand, in 2019, the game between India and New Zealand’s Test team was suspended owing to too much sunshine. Additionally in 2017, a match for the Ranji Trophy in Delhi was halted as an automobile circled the field. A Test match between South Africa and Bangladesh also came to an odd halt around lunchtime because caterers assigned to serve food for the visitors’ arrival were late. Although dogs and bees have frequently caused play to be temporarily stopped, tonight’s snake invasion was a first.
There was even more drama at the Barsapara Stadium. Play was suspended for the second time in the game during the South African innings due to a power outage. Before the power was restored, the game had to be interrupted due to the unexpected loss of the floodlights, and India and South Africa continued playing. Floodlight malfunctions are not new. It infamously occurred in 2008 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata during an IPL game.