India vs Australia 4th T20I set to be cancelled due to electricity problem in Raipur

India is currently playing Australia in the 5-match T20I series. The teams are playing their second-string squad with a majority of the players being rested after the ODI World Cup 2023. India are currently 2-1 in the series. The fourth T20I match will be at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium, Raipur. Shreyas Iyer has been back in the squad for the last two games and will be the deputy of Suryakumar Yadav who is leading the side currently. 

But there have been parts of the Stadium without power. The reason is that unpaid electricity payments date back to 2009. The stadium has an unpaid bill of 3.16 crore, for which the energy connection was terminated 5 years ago. At the request of the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Association, a temporary link was constructed, however, it only covers the spectators' gallery and boxes. During today's games, the floodlights would have to be powered by a generator.

Raipur Rural Circle in-charge Ashok Khandelwal said that the Secretary Cricket Association has increased the capacity of the temporary connection of the stadium, for the match to happen. The temporary connection currently has a capacity of 200 KV. An application to upgrade it to 1000 KV has been authorized, but work on it is yet to begin. 

I don't know how much the bill is outstanding: Tarunesh Singh Parihar

Tarunesh Singh Parihar, media coordinator for the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh, stated they are cautious about hosting international matches since it will be difficult. He stated that generators are used as an alternate option for large matches. Parihar said, "As far as the stadium lights are concerned, I don't know how much bill is outstanding but a temporary connection has been taken in the name of CSCS."

India would love to win the game to seal the series, while Australia who made a brilliant comeback in the last match would love to tie the series 2-2 and play a decider in M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on December 3.