Floodlight malfunction causes 35-minute stoppage during India’s chase in Cuttack

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According to an Odisha Cricket Association official, the generator connected to one of the six floodlight structures at the venue had conked off, forcing a nearly 35-minute stoppage. “There was a short-circuit issue with the generator and we had to get it replaced,” the official told The Indian news.

“Regular testing has been done in the lead-up to this match. We have been testing it for up to five hours everyday for the last five days,” the official said.

England’s Jos Buttler and India’s Virat Kohli look on during a problem with the floodlights, before play is suspended during India’s innings. (PHOTO: REUTERS)

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While the relatively old stadium structure owned by the Orissa Olympic Association (OOA) is in need of major overhaul in seating and other facilities, the modern LED floodlights were relatively recent upgrades.

“There are no concerns with the floodlights in particular as they were part of the partial renovations we have undertaken at the ground over the last few years. The old lights were replaced by the new LED towers in 2022. There is also a need to improve the seating facilities with covered stands and efforts are being put into getting the government backing for that,” an OCA committee member said.

Sunday’s ODI match was the first 50-over game held in Cuttack since November 2019 and the first international outing since India hosted South Africa in a T20I three years ago. An active stadium since the 1950–51 season, the 48,000-seater ground hosted the third-ever ODI held in the country in 1982.