Explained: How the drainage system at Chinnaswamy Stadium works as rain threat looms over RCB vs CSK match

Rain threat looms over Bengaluru as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) gear up to face Chennai Super  Kings (CSK) in a crucial IPL 2024 match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.

Thunderstorms are expected in the afternoon between 1 pm and 2 pm, and the weather does not look promising for the rest of the evening as well. Both RCB and CSK are in contention for making the IPL playoffs, and should the match get washed out due to rain, CSK would go through to the playoffs by virtue of most points. CSK would have 15 points whereas RCB’s points tally will read 13 if the match gets washed out.

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Even if it rains heavily on Saturday, the seamless drainage system at the ground could come into the rescue.

Chinnaswamy Stadium’s drainage system explained

The Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru has one of the best drainage systems in Bengaluru. The stadium uses the SubAir system that was installed by the Karnataka State Cricket Association in 2017. The  sub-surface aeration and vacuum-powered drainage system is beneficial in such a way that it helps the ground get ready for a match in just 15 minutes since rain stoppage, irrespective of how heavy the rain is.

According to a report in Sportstar, in order to build the entire system, it costed around Rs 4.25 crore, including about four kilometres of pipe length that has been in use.

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One example of the best use of this system was during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans clash in Bengaluru in IPL 2023, when fans witnessed a full game despite heavy rain.

“The ICC delegation [ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup] that visited the stadium was most impressed with the SubAir system. Even a big puddle disappears in seconds; it works like magic,” KSCA vice president B Sampath Kumar had said last year, as reported by Sportstar.