Why was the India-Australia match declared abandoned after just an hour of waiting, what was the reason behind it?

The first T20I between India and Australia in Canberra was washed out. However, even if the rain stopped, play would not have continued after 11 pm. There is a rule behind the scenes.

by
October 29, 2025, 1:58 pm
in Sports

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It rained twice in Canberra. The first time the overs were reduced. After the second time, play could not be resumed. The first T20I between India and Australia was abandoned. However, even if the rain had stopped, play could not have started there after 11 pm. There is a special reason behind this decision.

A 'floodlight curfew' is imposed in Canberra every night. There are settlements around this field. So every day after 11 pm, the floodlights of Canberra's Manuka Oval are automatically turned off. If the floodlights are not turned on, how will the game be played? That is why, even if the game starts after rain, the game would not be played after 11 pm.

In India's innings, it rained first after 5 overs. The game was stopped for about 40 minutes. Both teams were reduced to 2 overs. Later, after 9.4 overs, the rain started again. This time the intensity of the rain was much higher. The rain did not stop. Time was running out. At one time, it was known that in order to play a 5-over game, the game would have to start by 10:20 pm local time. Only then would it be finished by 11 pm.

But for that, it was important for the rain to stop. After the rain stopped, it took time to make the field playable. The umpires saw that there was no way the game could start within the scheduled time. As a result, after 1 hour and 4 minutes, it was announced that the match was abandoned. But if the 11 pm rule had not been there, the umpires might have waited a little longer. That was not possible.