The highly anticipated final match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 between the Chennai Super Kings and the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad was unfortunately affected by rain. The incessant rainfall resulted in the play being called off without a single ball being bowled. As a result, the final match has been rescheduled to take place on the reserve day, which is Monday, May 29.
The rain delay provided a rare and light-hearted moment for the cricketers. Shubman Gill and Mohammed Shami from the Gujarat Titans, along with their head coach Ashish Nehra, took to the field amidst the hailstorm. In a playful act, they tried to catch the falling hailstones. The video of their fun-filled moment quickly went viral on social media, bringing a smile to the faces of cricket fans.
The decision to move the final match to the reserve day was made at 10:55 pm local time. The continuous rain not only delayed the toss but also prevented the start of the much-awaited summit showdown. The disappointment grew for the fans who had gathered at the Narendra Modi Stadium, as the weather forecast did not look promising for the final match on Sunday.
The rain began in the evening, approximately half an hour before the scheduled toss time of 6:30 pm local time, and persisted for the next two and a half hours. Although the rain briefly subsided after 9:00 pm, the heavy downpour returned, leading the ground staff to cover the field once again and prompting the players to seek shelter. The covers and exposed areas of the outfield accumulated significant water, requiring extensive efforts from the ground staff to clear them.
Following the IPL rules, a reserve day is allocated for the final match. In this year’s case, Monday, May 29 serves as the reserve day. If the match fails to commence by the cut-off time of 12:06 am, a five-overs-per-side contest will be held. Fortunately, there are no predictions of rain for Monday, indicating a high possibility of a full 20-over match taking place.
Cricket enthusiasts and fans of both teams eagerly await the rescheduled final match between the Chennai Super Kings and the Gujarat Titans. With the weather on their side, the players will strive to deliver an exciting and thrilling encounter to conclude the IPL 2023 season on a high note.
