In a sight not often seen on a cricket area, a number of Mumbai gamers, together with India star Sarfaraz Khan and his brother Musheer Khan, have been noticed fielding in face masks throughout their Ranji Trophy match towards Delhi.
The visible raised instant questions in regards to the enjoying situations on the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy within the Bandra Kurla Advanced (BKC).
The Development Menace
The choice to put on protecting gear was not as a consequence of a sudden sickness however was a response to the deteriorating setting across the stadium. In keeping with a report by TV9 Bharatvarsh, continuous building exercise within the surrounding industrial hub of BKC has turned the venue right into a mud bowl.
This localized air pollution, mixed with Mumbai’s already excessive AQI of over 150, created a hazardous environment for the athletes.
Journalist Amol Karhadkar, who shared a photograph of the masked gamers on X (previously Twitter), identified that the venue had grow to be “fairly dusty.” He famous that a number of gamers, together with off-spinner Himanshu Singh, felt the necessity to take precautions whereas performing high-intensity bodily exercise.
Watch Publish
Because of non-strop building work within the industrial hub the place the match is being held, the venue has grow to be fairly dusty. No surprise then that a number of Mumbai gamers, together with the likes of Himanshu Singh, Sarfaraz Khan and Musheer Khan, are carrying a masks whereas fielding… pic.twitter.com/CT1iH06JCA
— Amol Karhadkar (@karhacter) January 29, 2026
Visibility and Well being Issues
The situations turned so tough that the day’s play needed to be known as off early. As reported by The Hindu, poor visibility brought on by the thick layer of mud and smog pressured an early stumps on Day 1. Whereas Delhi managed to publish 221 runs, the main target remained on the well being of the gamers.
This incident echoes previous controversies the place worldwide groups have worn masks as a consequence of extreme air pollution, however this can be a uncommon occasion of native building mud instantly impacting a premier home fixture. With the match poised for an fascinating Day 2, the Mumbai Cricket Affiliation (MCA) now faces scrutiny over sustaining participant security amid city enlargement.
