The IPL 2023 final was once again hit by rain on May 29, and play was delayed significantly. Here is how people reacted to the delay online.

Players and fans returned to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad hopeful of better weather, after rain curtailed any chance of play on May 28. However, after Gujarat Titans completed their innings uninterrupted to pile on 214-4, the rain returned just three balls into Chennai Super Kings’ chase.

Although the downpour did not last long, play was stopped for over two hours. Water had seeped into one of the side pitches before the ground staff could fully cover it. The area soaked was a zone where fielders would have run across, so play could not resume until it could be thoroughly dried. When the players eventually returned, it was past midnight. In other words, the match had entered its third day.

There was some criticism of the ground staff on Twitter for not covering the most critical areas of the field in time.

You can see here they’ve not covered it in time pic.twitter.com/aqOZdcgjrc

— Dweplea (@dweplea) May 29, 2023

You can see here they’ve not covered it in time pic.twitter.com/aqOZdcgjrc

— Dweplea (@dweplea) May 29, 2023

Others also commented on the tools the ground staff had to clear-up the playing surface.

IPL can be a 10 Billion dollar League. Each team may be valued a few billions. But, even after a rain forecast, if pieces of sponge is our preparedness to soak up a wet outfield, we should pity ourselves for the administrators we have. pic.twitter.com/NSl8XH4rsH

— Maheshwer Peri (@maheshperi) May 29, 2023

1.2 crore watching the pitch water being soaked by a sponge in the IPL Final.
😶 pic.twitter.com/XlPFteo4Hv

— Abhishek Ojha (@vicharabhio) May 29, 2023

BCCI earns a whopping 37,00,00,00,000 from IPL ad revenue, but hey, who needs basic tools to dry a outfield when you’ve got a trusty sponge and bucket?#GTvsCSK @JayShah #IPL https://t.co/iat5CXmuda pic.twitter.com/ATU69ZjFGI

— PoliCric (@Baba_Despactio) May 29, 2023

𝟏.𝟐 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝.

This is a shambles – the biggest cricket league in the world and all this mess. This is the worst IPL final to date. They built the biggest stadium without the proper drainage system and… pic.twitter.com/J7J3WP7uN4

— M (@anngrypakiistan) May 29, 2023

India’s biggest / largest stadium but grounds men have no raincoats !!! @BCCI @IPL @JayShah and they are working with the richest cricket league ! pic.twitter.com/Oo83D6i1Qc

— 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗦𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 (வாழப்பாடி இராம சுகந்தன்) (@vazhapadi) May 29, 2023

Concerns were also raised about future high-profile matches held at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The ground is reportedly set to host several matches at the Cricket World Cup in India later this year.

Glimpses of #GujaratModel at world’s largest cricket stadium (Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad) where the World’s richest Cricket Board (BCCI) is hosting the world’s richest cricket league IPL)’s final !#IPL2023Final pic.twitter.com/vrCPFWFYby

— Sincere Dibya (@DibyasinhaSah00) May 29, 2023

I am not sorry to say that Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad doesn’t deserve to host the grand finale of big tournaments as per current evidence, this has been a mismanagement of the highest order in the past few days for the IPL Final.

— Arjun (@LifeIsAnElation) May 29, 2023

The rain exposed the corruption and mismanagement of Jay Shah at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.!! #CSKvsGT #IPL2023Final pic.twitter.com/eQlASlxkj7

— Hitendra Pithadiya 🇮🇳 (@HitenPithadiya) May 29, 2023

Thankfully, the match was able to get underway again, and CSK’s target was adjusted to 171 in 15 overs. Devon Conway struck 47 runs off 25 balls before Ajinkya Rahane played a blistering innings to propel Chennai towards the target. With 10 needed in two balls, Ravindra Jadeja hit Mohit Sharma for six and four to help Chennai lift their fifth trophy.

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