Having only read about smog in textbooks and newspaper articles, this reporter got to experience it firsthand for the first time in his life during his maiden Ranji Trophy assignment, a match between Haryana and Kerala in Rohtak.
Besides the gloomy welcome by an acrid blanket of this man-made weather phenomenon, the reporter was taken aback by a prescient cab driver who predicted the first day’s play of the game wouldn’t begin until 12 pm, due to the all-encompassing smog that had literally engulfed the town.
Despite the warning, the reporter decided to head to the stadium in Lahli — located amidst endless swathes of farmland.
The cab driver’s judgement proved accurate, and not just for the first day, as the smog ate into the official play time at both ends throughout the match.
When light permitted and the two teams finally clashed, there occurred an event of such rarity that it had happened only twice before in the history of the Ranji Trophy.
Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj managed to claim all 10 wickets in Kerala’s first innings, becoming only the third bowler, after Premansu Chatterjee (1956) and Pradeep Sunderam (1985), to achieve the feat.
| Video Credit:
Pranay Rajiv
This reporter, who had earlier cursed his luck for being the sole journalist covering the game, was now thanking his stars for being present at the scene of history.
Fortune also allowed the reporter to capture videos of Kamboj’s 10th wicket and his proud walk back to the pavilion – which turned out to be the reporter’s most viral post on X.
An interview with Kamboj was soon sourced, features were filed, and a copy of the scorecard was acquired – for memorabilia’s sake.
Unfortunately for Haryana, Kerala managed to overcome Kamboj’s heroics, clinching the all-important first-innings lead and the resultant three points.
Soon, the reporter, grateful for the random stroke of chance that allowed him to witness such a rare episode in cricketing history, bid farewell to Rohtak and its smog — and also to his hoodie, which is practically of little use back in Chennai.
Expectations for 2025
Hoping India performs well in the Champions Trophy and the Women’s ODI World Cup. On a more specific note, it would be wonderful if Jasprit Bumrah remains injury-free and continues to break bowling records.
