Recalling the infamous 2015 crowd trouble before series opener
As the Indian cricket team prepares to face South Africa this Tuesday for the opening match of a five-game T20I series, all eyes are on the historic venue in Cuttack. While the excitement for the upcoming IND vs SA Barabati Stadium clash is palpable, the venue holds a mix of bitter and sweet memories for cricket fans in Odisha.
Specifically, the 2015 encounter between these two sides remains etched in history for the wrong reasons. That year, the excitement of hosting a T20 International turned into chaos due to crowd mismanagement.
The 2015 Flashback: A Night to Forget
Ten years ago, the Men in Blue arrived in Cuttack hoping to level the series after a loss in Dharamsala. However, things went south quickly. MS Dhoni’s squad suffered a catastrophic batting collapse, crumbling from 43/2 to being bowled out for just 92 runs.
The poor performance did not sit well with the local crowd. Frustration boiled over as spectators began hurling water bottles onto the field of play during the second innings. The disruption was severe enough to halt the game twice. The first stoppage lasted nearly 20 minutes, but when the bottle-throwing resumed two overs later, the umpires were forced to pull the players off the field for safety.
While the match eventually resumed—resulting in a comfortable win for the Proteas—the incident drew sharp criticism. Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar was furious at the time, suggesting that the venue should be banned from hosting international matches for two years and criticizing the police for failing to monitor the stands.
Captains’ Reactions: Anger and Calm
The aftermath of the incident saw contrasting reactions. South African captain Faf du Plessis expressed his disappointment, noting that such behavior killed the competitive intensity of the game. However, Indian skipper MS Dhoni took a calmer approach. He downplayed the security risk, famously stating that the spectators were throwing bottles "for fun" after the first one was tossed, rather than out of genuine malice.
Current Scenario
Since that controversial night, Cuttack has hosted limited T20Is. India managed a win against Sri Lanka in 2017 but suffered another defeat to South Africa at this venue in 2022. However, with a recent ODI victory against England at Barabati earlier this year, the current squad will be eager to set the record straight in the shortest format.
Image Source: Image Grab BCCI
