Cricket fans are amid uncertainty ahead of the fifth and final T20 International between India and West Indies, scheduled to take place today at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Heavy rain in Bengaluru in recent days has led to fears of a delay in the high-profile match in the city, and the weather forecast provided by the weather forecast: showers and thunderstorms could cause Bengaluru to get wet during the afternoon and evening, delay the toss, possibly slow the beginning of the match itself or shorten the number of overs.
The weather is a big talking point for fans looking forward to the match, with so much going on in the city as they wait for the match to take place in the coming days. Most of the weather forecasts provided by IMD and AccuWeather indicate a substantial possibility of rain throughout Saturday.
The overall chance of precipitation in Bengaluru is estimated to be approximately 90%, although this should be compared to the latest forecast before it is published.
The hourly forecast shows a 68% to 71% chance of rain between 4 PM and 5 PM, and a 49% chance by 6 PM when the toss will take place. At 7 PM, the expected match start time, the chance of rain increases to 64%. From 8 PM to 11 PM, the estimated chance of rain is from 49% to 56%.
While these are the predictions of rain, they do not indicate that it will rain continuously and do not mean that the match will be abandoned. Rain during the toss and opening overs could impact both teams’ preparation. If there is rain, the pitch and outfield may be wet at the toss and opening overs, and the officials may have to delay the toss or wait for conditions to improve.
Even after rainfall stops, play cannot resume immediately if the pitch, outfield or run-up areas remain unsuitable for cricket. Match organisers must ensure that the playing surface is safe for players and that conditions meet the requirements for competitive play. If interruptions continue after the match begins, the available playing time could be reduced, potentially affecting the number of overs allocated to each side.
The actual impacts of rain would also depend on the timing and duration of the rain and competition conditions. One thing that could help Bengaluru host the match in the presence of intermittent showers is the drainage system at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The SubAir drainage and aeration system is designed to remove water from the playing surface and to make the playing surface ready for cricket after rainfall. The supplied report claims that it can remove about 10,000 litres of water per minute and that the outfield may be ready within 15 minutes after rainfall stops.
These performance figures should be verified with the stadium authorities before publication, as actual recovery times depend on several conditions. Even with the advanced drainage structures, a match will not always go ahead without interruptions. The ground staff must check the pitch and outfield before officials can permit play to resume. If the weather improves between showers, then the drainage system could help limit the delay.
However, the decision is ultimately up to the match officials, who must take into account the playing surface and safety of the players. Fans travelling to the stadium should therefore follow official match updates and not assume that the drainage system will prevent every weather-related disruption.
Team India Squad: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Arshdeep Singh among others.
West Indies squad: Shai Hope (Captain), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Roston Chase, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd and Shamar Joseph.
If rain remains intermittent, the stadium's drainage facilities may help the ground recover between showers and allow play to proceed after delays. If prolonged rainfall or thunderstorms affect the venue throughout the evening, however, interruptions or a shortened contest could become unavoidable.
Supporters should monitor updates from the IMD, the stadium authorities and official cricket channels for the latest information on the toss, start time and playing conditions. Until an updated forecast and official match confirmation are available, the possibility of rain should be treated as a risk rather than a certainty.
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