After washout, focus on Uppal stadium ahead of play-offs

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE, 2025

After washout, focus on Uppal stadium ahead of play-offs

by Vijay Tagore • Last updated on

The match between SunRisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals was abandoned due to a wet outfield at the Uppal Stadium, following heavy rain © BCCI/IPL

The ground conditions and inadequate drainage at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad, have raised concerns about the venue's readiness ahead of the IPL play-offs. With Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator scheduled to be held there on May 20 and 21, any unseasonal rain - like the showers that disrupted play on Monday (May 5) - could seriously impact the matches.

"We will address the issue," said a senior official of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). A member of the ground staff felt there was little they could have done, given the intensity of the downpour and the lack of a clear weather forecast. "We still covered 90 per cent of the ground."

The match between SunRisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals was abandoned due to a wet outfield at the Uppal Stadium, following heavy rain for more than an hour after the Delhi Capitals' innings. A shortened game could still have been possible had the stadium been totally covered and if there was better drainage - facilities that are seen at many other venues across the country.

Stadiums like the Chinnaswamy in Bengaluru and the Chepauk in Chennai are known for their impeccable drainage systems, while Eden Gardens in Kolkata - the venue for the final - can be completely covered in the event of rain. In contrast, the Uppal Stadium was not up to those standards. The ground could not be fully covered on Monday resulting in dampness in the outfield that made resumption of play impossible.

The SRH franchise, understandably unhappy with the turn of events, are preparing to bring to the notice of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). "It's sad. We are going to write to the BCCI," senior franchise officials told this Cricbuzz. They also contest the claim that 90 percent of the ground was covered.

SRH management and the HCA have already had a few run ins. The franchise, which pays Rs 1 crore per match to the association, believes it was in a strong position to win Monday night's game after having restricted the visitors to 133 for seven. After the No-Result outcome, the side is out of contention for a play-off berth.

HCA secretary P Devaraj admitted that the association was caught off guard by the sudden change in weather but said it would try to address the issues. "We've never encountered such a scenario before. I agree that the covers were inadequate, and we will address the issue immediately," he told Cricbuzz. "We will address this issue before the play-offs."

"The downpour, accompanied by a hailstorm, lasted for over an hour. We managed to cover about 90 percent of the ground using 18 covers, and deployed two Super Soppers continuously. Despite our best efforts, the sheer volume of water - nearly 3 to 5 inches in some areas - left the outfield wet. More are not authorised to cover the ground unless advised by the match officials.

"We have a herringbone drainage system and even created additional holes in the soil to speed up absorption, but water had collected everywhere. Besides, we did not have a forecast for rain. Given the time constraints and the match referee's cutoff time, we simply ran out of time. Had we been given another 30 to 40 minutes, we might have managed to restart the game," a member of the ground staff explained.

© Cricbuzz

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