MUMBAI: The clock struck 6.52 PM when the floodlights came on at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday. It was quite unusual, as the norm at cricket grounds is to switch on the floodlights as soon as the Sun goes down during that twilight period of the evening. On Tuesday, however, that was not the case.
England team had already left the ground after training through the afternoon, but India were yet to start their practice. During the T20 World Cup, when teams train in the evening, it usually runs from 6-9 PM. India's training schedule at Wankhede two days before the semifinal clash against England was initially scheduled from 6 PM to 9 PM, but the BCCI pushed it to 7 PM shortly after.
While there was no official reason given for the move, the enuring lunar eclipse is said to be one of the reasons. On Tuesday, the lunar eclipse began at 3:20 PM and ran through till 6:47 PM. Incidentally, minutes after that, the floodlights went on at Wankhede. Around 6.57 PM, the support staff came down to set up the training. Apparently, in Hindu tradition, a lunar eclipse is considered to be an inauspicious time, and is followed in Maharashtra traditionally.
This is not the first time, cricketing activity was pushed back due to a solar eclipse. In 2019, the start of Ranji Trophy matches was delayed, apparently due to solar eclipse. Back then, this daily had reported that Day 2 of the Ranji matches in Indore, Mumbai, Rajkot and Mysuru started two hours late due to solar eclipse. While matches usually start at 9.30 AM, play at these venues began at 11.30 am.