The much-anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) final clash between the Gujarat Titans and the Chennai Super Kings faced an unexpected setback as torrential rain poured down on the venue just moments before the scheduled toss. The weather took a sudden turn for the worse, catching everyone off guard and creating a frenzy of activity among the ground staff. With utmost urgency, they swiftly covered the pitch and the run-up areas with two layers of protective sheets, ensuring that the essential playing surfaces remained shielded from the downpour.
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| Groundsmen cover the pitch due to rains ahead of the IPL 2023 final cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi |
Unfortunately, the intensity of the rain only grew stronger, accompanied by thunderous claps and dazzling flashes of lightning. The devoted fans, who had gathered in large numbers to witness the spectacle, were left with no choice but to seek refuge from the inclement weather. Dishearteningly, the uncovered center strip transformed into vast pools of water, further complicating the situation. As time ticked away, discussions arose regarding the feasibility of rescheduling the match to a reserve day if it proved impossible to start even a shortened five-over game before the cut-off time of 11:56 PM local time.
According to the tournament rules, in the event of rain or unfavorable conditions disrupting the IPL final on the designated day, it can be rescheduled to a subsequent day known as the reserve day. The hope remained that if the game could commence by 9:40 PM local time, no overs would be lost. However, the reserve day itself posed its own set of challenges if it, too, fell victim to adverse weather or a washout. In such a scenario, the team that claimed the top position in the league stage would be crowned the champions. The defending champions, the Gujarat Titans, emerged as the frontrunners during the league matches, victorious in 10 out of their 14 encounters and accumulating a remarkable 20 points. Meanwhile, the Chennai Super Kings secured the second position with 17 points, setting the stage for a fiercely contested battle between the two formidable sides.
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