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Eden Gardens Vs Narendra Modi Stadium: Comparing Two Venues On Fixing 'Rain Problem'

Abhinav Tyagi

Narendra Modi Stadium vs Eden Gardens - (Source : @Johns/X.com)Narendra Modi Stadium vs Eden Gardens - (Source : @Johns/X.com)

On Sunday, June 1, Mumbai Indians locked horns against Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The much-awaited game couldn't start on time as rain started to pour in Ahmedabad just before the first ball was about to be bowled.

The fans were furious with the IPL governing body as they shifted the venue for qualifier two from Eden Gardens in Kolkata to Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in the revised schedule because of the 10-day suspension. The reason behind the change is venue was rain threat in Kolkata in the first week of June. Much to everyone's surprise, the move backfired as the weather is dry in Kolkata, while its raining cats and dogs at the Narendra Modi Stadium. 

The cut-off time for a full 20-over match is 9:30 pm, but the fans doubt the drainage system in Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, this article will compare the rain-preparedness of Eden Gardens and Narendra Modi Stadium and what are the ideal factors to stat the match.

Eden Gardens vs Narendra Modi Stadium: What Are The Ideal Conditions?

1. Weather 

Firstly, the weather in two cities is the most important thing that needs to be considered for a match. Talking about the two venues, at present, it is raining in Ahmedabad and there is still 6-8% chance of rain at the Narendra Modi Stadium. 


On the other hand, it is dry in Kolkata and there is no rain at present at the Eden Garden Stadium. It is 29° in Kolkata and there are no signs of downpour at the Mecca of cricket in India. 


2. Drainage System

After the weather at a particular venue, it is the drainage system that matters the most. At present, Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru has the best drainage system and lets look the drainage system at Narendra Modi Stadium and Eden Gardens. 

It is worth noting that Narendra Modi Stadium has one of the finest drainage system in India as it is well-equipped with a state-of-the-art sub-surface drainage system capable of clearing 75mm of water in just 30 minutes — three times the usual rate. 

On the other hand, Eden Gardens is also equipped with one of the finest drainage systems and they have three layer drainage system that includes, gravel, perforated pipes and sand that makes the ground absorb the water quickly and get it match ready within 40  minutes after rain.

Comparing the two drainage system, then Narendra Modi Stadium has a slight edge over Eden Gardens. 

3. Outfield Quality

The third condition that should be met for an ideal match is the outfield quality post-rain. Usually, a game starts after a rain interruption, but the outfield is so bad that the ball hardly travels to the boundary. 

Despite the two stadiums built in different eras, they share the same outfield quality post rain as the groundsmen don't cover the ground during rain and the outfield gets thicker and slicker, which makes it difficult for batters to bat - be it Narendra Modi Stadium or Eden Gardens. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, it was a mistake to shift the qualifier from Eden Gardens to Narendra Modi Stadium as there is rain pelting down in Ahmedabad while the surface is dry in Kolkata. Further, Narendra Modi Stadium has a better drainage system than Eden Gardens but the time difference between two venues to get the ground ready for a match is just 10 minutes, which is minimal, given the IPL governing body has given an extended 120-minute window for a game to be completed.