The fifth, series-deciding game of the India vs South Africa T20I series in Bengaluru got washed out on Sunday night. Only 3 and half-overs of India’s batting were played in the venue before rain played spoilsport. The series ended tied at 2-2 with both teams sharing the trophy.
Netizens unimpressed with BCCI for not providing groundsmen with equipments
It took close to 2 and half-hours for the umpires and match officials to formally abandon the game due to rainy conditions and wet outfield. During this time, the rain fluctuated at various points of time; from being mild drizzle at one stage to be a torrential downpour just a few moments later.
Still, the M. Chinnaswammy stadium groundsmen and staff must be applauded for doing everything possible in their capacity to ensure that the game went on smoothly. The on-duty groundsmen were frequently spotted running around the field with covers to minimize waterlogging. Sweepers and cleaning staff stationed in the ground were also extremely active in removing the excess water accrued in the outfield. The newly installed sub air system at the venue was also being deployed quite proactively to dry water puddles from the grass. Alas, despite everyone’s best efforts, nothing came to fruition.
Richest board in World Cricket and richest league with highest broadcasting rights drying pitch with "Quloon wali Dariyan" #INDvsSA #IPLAuction #IPLMediaRights @BCCI @Neroli_Meadows @melindafarrell pic.twitter.com/YMQbCMH6PU
— Umar Javed (@iUmarJaved) June 19, 2022
ALSO WATCH: Fan Invades ground to touch Rishabh Pant’s feet; the video goes viral
Guwahati stadium ground staff even used hair dryer, iron in 2020
However, the highlight of the rain-marred match was this series of images that went viral on social media. The Chinnaswammy stadium sports crew were seen using floor rugs, but in 2020, we witnessed Guwahati groundsmen using a vacuum cleaner, a hair dryer, an iron to dry out the water from the pitch! Several fans pointed out that despite being the richest cricketing board in the world, the BCCI resorted to the most ground-level ways to ensure that the fans assembled in the stadium got to enjoy a game. Here are some of the best Twitter reactions:
No harm in doing every possible thing to dry the pitch.
It is for the sake of game though
In my club days used to have a big silver pot filled with burnt coal and wood.
Once I saw a helicopter drying Gaddafi pitch in Lahore— CrickStaT (@WaseemG1998kk) June 19, 2022
No there is "sub air system" is installed in Chinnaswamy Stadium.. if rain will completely stopped
hardly in 10 minutes game will be on….
— Ashish Chauhan (@imashu1998) June 19, 2022
