Mumbai Players Wear Face Masks Amid Construction-Related Pollution During Ranji Match

Mumbai players were forced to wear face masks to protect themselves from pollution caused by nearby construction activity on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy match against Delhi at the Bandra Kurla Complex ground on Thursday.

Batter Sarfaraz Khan, his younger brother Musheer Khan and spinner Himanshu Singh were seen wearing face masks while on the field during the third session of play as air quality in the area deteriorated. The Air Quality Index (AQI) hovered around 160, categorised as “unhealthy,” making conditions difficult for players.

Although pollution levels in Mumbai have remained high in recent times, it is uncommon for cricketers to wear face masks during competitive matches. However, construction work taking place adjacent to the ground significantly worsened the situation during the afternoon session.

“There wasn’t any banter about it,” Mumbai seamer Mohit Avasthi said. “New construction work is being carried out here and because of that the players were feeling the pollution and having issues with breathing, so they put those on.”

The three players wore the masks for approximately half an hour while fielding before removing them later as play continued.

The incident once again highlighted concerns over air quality and player safety, particularly at venues affected by ongoing construction activity.