Unexpected bouncers, swinging deliveries, and towering sixes are usually the highlight of a cricket ground, often turning players into overnight stars. But at a cricket ground in Idukki’s high range, it was a wild elephant that unexpectedly stole the spotlight.
Reporting from Gold 101.3 FM – UAE’s No. 1 Malayalam Radio Station, the unusual incident was reported from the Muthampady cricket ground on the forest fringes of Valakode in Upputhara. Around 3.30 pm on Tuesday, while a hartal was being observed across the state, a group of youngsters were playing cricket when a wild elephant slowly entered the ground through a nearby grassland.
Calm and unhurried, the elephant swayed its head as it approached the field, stood close to the players for a while, and appeared completely non-aggressive. It even scooped up soil with its trunk, dusted itself, and lingered near the ground for a few minutes, as the stunned players watched from a distance.
On spotting the elephant, the players immediately paused the match, put down their bats, and moved to the other side of a nearby stream for safety. Team members Joji Joseph and Sharan captured the rare moment on their mobile phones, recording photos and videos of the visitor.
After spending some time near the ground, the elephant moved towards a nearby water channel, drank water, and calmly returned to the forest. The players later resumed their match once the area was clear.
