Delhi will host a Test match against South Africa from November 14-18 later this year, a time when pollution levels are at their peak in the national capital.
In a move that has raised several eyebrows, the BCCI has scheduled the first India-South Africa Test in Delhi in the post-Diwali period amid concerns about the city's alarming air quality. The board is confident the air pollution will not be a concern, with secretary Devajit Saikia telling the Indian Express: “We have considered all factors and have gone by the rotation policy after discussing it with everyone. The pollution issue doesn’t happen every year.”
However, contrary to the statement, it has been a long-standing concern for citizens in Delhi, who have been restricted indoors with air purifiers in the last few months of the year, particularly following Diwali celebrations that spike up the Air Quality Index (AQI). For an athlete who is exposed to the conditions for longer, it is even more hazardous.
History of pollution affecting Delhi games in November
It is not the first time that the sport has been affected by the Delhi air. In 2016, two Ranji Trophy games were cancelled in November due to the poor air quality and thick layering of smog.
In early December 2017, India were almost forced to declare their innings against Sri Lanka after they ran out of players healthy enough to field on day two. Later in the game, at least five fielders came out wearing masks, with an oxygen cylinder present in the dressing room.
In 2019, two Bangladesh players vomited on the field during an ODI, and the team cancelled their training in Delhi ahead of the World Cup clash against Sri Lanka in 2023. The match was nearly rescheduled out of the city.
How bad is the winter air in Delhi?
The AQI is an indicator that suggests how polluted the air is at any point in time. The ideal levels are below 50, and anything between 50-100 is considered ’moderate’. Above 100, and the AQI extends into the ‘poor’ category. At the time of writing (first week of April), the AQI level in Delhi is hovering between 145-185 in different parts of the city, or in the ‘unhealthy’ category.
The situation gets far worse in November. Last year, the AQI extended to the ‘severe plus’ category as the levels reached above 700 (no mistake there) in some parts of the city by the middle of the month. November 18 had an AQI of 795, making it the most polluted city in recorded history according to some reports.
Out of the 30 days, two were classified under the ‘severe plus’ category, six as ‘severe’, and the remaining 22 days under ‘very poor’.
In the last four years, the peak AQI level in Delhi in November has gone above 700 twice (in 2021 and 2024) and over 500 in 2022 and 2023, contrary to the BCCI’s statement about the “pollution issue” not being a factor each year.
Prolonged exposure to the deteriorating air quality is known to cause respiratory and vascular diseases in people involved in minimal physical activity. One can only imagine the adverse effects it would have on players involved in elite sport over the course of multiple days.
Why is the AQI level so bad in Delhi?
Bursting of firecrackers as part of Diwali celebrations, a major festival in North India, acts as a seasonal trigger. Despite a blanket ban by the Supreme Court on their sale, production and manufacture, firecrackers were still widely used during Diwali last year in Delhi.
This is also the time when farmers in Punjab and Haryana resort to stubble burning. After harvesting paddy, they burn the leftovers to prepare for sowing wheat. With cleaner alternatives being expensive, burning the stubble off is the easiest method. The situation has worsened since 2010 with a shift in paddy sowing months, pushing stubble burning closer to winter when the change in weather and meteorological conditions mean pollutants are trapped near the ground, worsening the situation.
However, the base level of pollution is due to year-round factors like vehicular emissions, construction dust, and industrial activities. Delhi has over 1.2 crore registered vehicles, with transportation contributing around 50 per cent to the city’s pollution. The large number of diesel and petrol vehicles continuously release harmful emissions, worsening air quality.
Industrial pollution is another major contributor, particularly thermal power plants in and around Delhi NCR, which release sulfur dioxide and other harmful pollutants. Despite policies to curb emissions, these industries continue to function with limited accountability.
Unregulated construction activities also play a major role. Dust from construction sites, coupled with poor enforcement of dust-control regulations, significantly contributes to pollution. The absence of adequate green cover and the continuous expansion of urban infrastructure only add to the problem.
Geographical and meteorological factors further worsen the situation. During winter, Delhi experiences temperature inversion, where cold air traps pollutants close to the surface, preventing them from dispersing. Low wind speeds and fog further intensify pollution levels, creating smog that lingers for days.
It, thus, goes without saying that these are less than ideal conditions, especially for outdoor sports. For a team like South Africa, who are not accustomed to such pollution, it can be particularly challenging. The same goes for the Indian team, and it is important to acknowledge the health risks involved rather than overlooking them.
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