India’s Series Victory Over England: Dharamsala Weather a Non-Factor
India’s emphatic series victory over England in Ranchi takes on a new dimension when considering the contrasting weather conditions between Ranchi and Dharamsala, the venue for the fifth and final Test. With the hosts securing an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, the Dharamsala match holds significance primarily for World Test Championship (WTC) points.
Had the series been poised at 2-1 or 2-2 heading into the fifth Test, England would have harbored hopes of triumphing or sharing the trophy in the familiar conditions of chilly, rainy Dharamsala. However, India’s dominance in the previous three Tests has effectively extinguished those aspirations.
India’s ascent to the top of the WTC table, following Australia’s victory over New Zealand in Wellington, further underscores the significance of the Dharamsala Test. The weather forecast for the morning of March 7, when the match is scheduled to commence, paints a stark contrast to the conditions in Ranchi.
Temperatures in Dharamsala are expected to hover around 5 degrees Celsius, with a forecast of “mostly cloudy and cold with a little rain.” The afternoon temperature is predicted to reach 7 degrees, dropping to around 4 degrees in the evening.
Despite the chilly start, the weather is anticipated to improve over the next four days, with temperatures ranging from 11 to 21 degrees. England, who began the series with a 28-run victory in the first Test, have since suffered three consecutive defeats.
India leveled the series with a 106-run win in Visakhapatnam, followed by a massive 434-run victory in Rajkot. The hosts sealed the series with a five-wicket triumph in Ranchi, leaving England with little hope of salvaging the series in Dharamsala.