The 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is crucial, as it will determine the last available spot in the playoffs. However, there is a significant chance that rain might disrupt the game at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Weather forecasts predict a 75% chance of rainfall between 8 PM and 11 PM, with potential thunderstorms from late afternoon to midnight.
CSK will secure the playoff spot if they win against RCB or if the game gets washed out on Saturday. Conversely, RCB needs to beat CSK by at least 18 runs or with 11 balls to spare to clinch the last playoff spot based on net run-rate.
If the match is indeed washed out, both RCB and CSK will receive one point each, which would elevate CSK, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, to 15 points, ensuring their advancement. In the event of rain, the Chinnaswamy Stadium’s advanced drainage system will be crucial.
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In 2017, the Karnataka State Cricket Association installed a SubAir subsurface aeration and vacuum-powered drainage system at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. This technology helps dry the outfield quickly and prevents water-logging. Officials claimed that the 200-horsepower machine could drain water “36 times faster” than traditional systems, removing water at a rate of 10,000 liters per minute.
Chinnaswamy Stadium has the best sub-air drainage and aeration system in the world♥️
Let’s hope for the best✌🏻#RCBvCSK #CSKvRCB #RCBvsCSK @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/cj5h4WIfkf
— Ⓤನೌನ್_ಮಂದಿ💛❤️ (@unknown_trio) May 17, 2024
This allows the match to resume within 15 to 20 minutes after the rain stops. Reflecting on the impact of the SubAir system, India’s first female pitch curator, Jacintha Kalyan, highlighted its significance in a 2019 video.
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“I had worked at the stadium for two or three years before the sub-air system was installed. It was tough during heavy rains as a lot of water would accumulate on the outfield. The stadium didn’t have Bermuda grass back then, just mixed grass. Some parts of the ground would retain more water, making it difficult to clear,” she explained.
With such advanced drainage capabilities, there is hope that even if rain interrupts the match, it can resume quickly, allowing RCB and CSK to fight for that coveted playoff spot.
