Tomorrow night's World Twenty20 cricket match between New Zealand and Australia could be more of a slog fest than usual if the Indian weather forecasters are proved right.
Dharamsala cricket stadium, India. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Rain caused havoc at the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala at the foot of the Indian Himalayas during last week's World T20 qualifying event.
Two matches were abandoned, while there were just six overs a side when Ireland and Netherlands - the shortest completed T20 international in the history of the format.
Thunderstorms are forecast but Black Caps legspinner Ish Sodhi says it will be a spectacular place to play and reminds him of Queenstown.
"I didn't really expect a place like this. A lot of the places I have been to (in India) are hot and not as green and there's no snow around.
"I've never been this far north and it's quite nice with this tournament, you get to see a lot of cities you haven't been to before, especially for me coming from Punjab. And it's a really nice climate up here - not too hot and not too cold. It's quite like back home (in New Zealand)."
Sodhi is looking forward to the prospect of playing Australia in conditions that are foreign for both teams and says the Black Caps are buoyed by their opening match victory over India.
Australia are yet to play match at the tournament but it already looms as a game that could have a major impact on the pool with New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh all looking to grab two semi-final spots.
If the weather intervenes and the match is called off, each side will receive a point, further complicating the tightrope path to the semi-finals.
