Bhubaneswar, December 9: “Odisha is ready for an electrifying evening filled with unforgettable moments and collective celebration,” said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ahead of the opening T20I of the five-match series against South Africa. The match will be played at Cuttack’s Barabati Stadium at 7 PM.
“My best wishes to both the squads of #Bharat and #SouthAfrica, on the pretext of the opening T20 match at the historic Barabati Stadium. #Odisha is ready for an electrifying evening filled with unforgettable moments and collective celebration. Cricket will surely win today,” Majhi posted on X.
“Odisha has a proud history of upholding the best traditions of sportsmanship, and Barabati is a cherished emblem of our deep affection for cricket. We are truly eager to welcome these world-class athletes to experience exceptional cricketing action at Odisha, the sports hub of the nation,” the CM wrote.
The CM further wrote, “I believe this match will brilliantly demonstrate the players' dedication and skill, while also celebrating the cultural friendship that sports so powerfully fosters between our nations. Thousands of cricket fans are awaiting to watch their favourite players in the floodlight washed stadium and beautiful Cuttack winter evening. I will try to squeeze some time out to catch a glimpse of the game too, this time from the stadium.”
Notably, the T20I series comes after an intense Test and ODI contest between the two sides. South Africa dominated the red-ball leg with a 2-0 clean sweep, while India bounced back in the white-ball format, winning the ODI series 2-1 with the return of senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Earlier this morning, the India cricketers, along with head coach Gautam Gambhir, visited the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri to seek blessings ahead of the opening T20I of the five-match series against South Africa.
