Magazine : 
TATA IPL 2024: Rainout Secures Playoff Spot for Hyderabad Against Gujarat
Sunrisers Hyderabad, led by Pat Cummins, have clinched a playoff berth in IPL 2024, joining Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals. Their match against Gujarat Titans at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium was washed out due to rain. As the match ended without a single ball being bowled, both SRH and GT have earned one point each. With SRH's total points reaching 15, they have secured a spot in the playoffs. To enhance their chances of a top-two finish, they must defeat Punjab Kings on Sunday and rely on Rajasthan Royals losing to Kolkata Knight Riders.
SRH's qualification for the playoffs signifies the elimination of Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants from contention. The final playoff position will be determined by the crucial match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Hours before the start of play in Hyderabad, it began to rain. A post on social media platform X from the Director Of Enforcement, Vigilance, and Disaster Management of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation said: “Heavy rainfall is expected today in Hyderabad city. There is a break in rainfall today until 6 pm and may resume after 6pm. Citizens may plan their travel accordingly.”
Visuals from the ground showed the playing area under blue covers and tyres kept on the partition areas, with soggy patches already forming in the outfield areas that haven’t been covered. With more slightly dark clouds over the ground, the chances of a game went bleak until 7:15 p.m., when covers began to come off and super soppers worked relentlessly.
At 7:45 pm, it was confirmed that the toss was scheduled for 8:00 pm, followed by the match commencing at 8:15 pm. However, just eight minutes before the toss, the drizzle returned, prompting the covers to be brought back onto the field. As the drizzle intensified into a heavy downpour without any signs of easing, it became increasingly evident that the match would be abandoned.
Around 10 p.m., on-field umpires Nand Kishore and Virender Sharma, holding umbrellas, conferred with the ground staff to evaluate the feasibility of preparing the ground for a five-over shootout. Just eleven minutes later, the umpires summoned the captains and, after shaking hands, officially declared the game abandoned due to rain.
GT also became the first team in IPL history to experience consecutive abandoned matches without a single ball being bowled, marking a somber conclusion to its IPL 2024 campaign. Led by Shubman Gill, the team had planned to wear lavender jerseys in support of cancer awareness, but unfortunately, inclement weather thwarted their intentions.
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