The 2023 Indian Premier League final between defending champions Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings was moved to Monday's reserve day after heavy rain prevented any play in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
The rain stopped briefly at around 9pm local time Sunday and ground staff even took the covers off from the pitch and the square but soon rain came down heavily again.
Persistent rain left plenty of big puddles on the outfield of the more than 100,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium before umpires finally called the final off for the day at 10.52pm after consulting ground staff and the match referee.
Weather forecast
The weather forecast for Ahmedabad on Monday looks more encouraging than Sunday.
According to www.accuweather.com, there is a chance of thunderstorms in parts in the early afternoon with a 40 per cent chance of rain. The forecast for the match, which kicks off at 7.30pm local time (6pm UAE) is partly cloudy with only a 3 per cent of precipitation and a temperature of 32 degrees.
Who is playing?
Chennai, led by veteran MS Dohni, will be playing a record 10th IPL final and looking for a record-equaling fifth title.
Gujarat, skippered by Hardik Pandya, thumped five-time champions Mumbai Indians in the knockout game to book a place in its second successive IPL final.
What happens if there is another washout?
According to the IPL playing conditions, in case of more rain on the reserve day, both teams will play a five-overs-a-side match to determine the winners. In case even that is no possible, then a super over clash will decide the champions. In the event of a complete washout on Monday, the team that finished top of the table during the league phase will be declared winners - which in this case is Gujarat Titans.
Who to watch out for
Gujarat batsman Shubman Gill has scored 851 runs from 16 games that includes three centuries in the last four matches including a match-winning 129 in Friday's win against Mumbai Indians in the final eliminator.
On Monday, Gill could become only the second batter in the history of the IPL to reach 900 runs in a season. Virat Kohli holds the record of most runs in an IPL season with 973 in 2016.
Gujarat seamer Mohammed Shami is the leading wicket-taker in this edition of the IPL with 28 wickets.
Chennai will look to Devon Conway to add to his 625 runs, which places him joint-fourth on the top run scorers' list, while Tushar Deshpande and Ravindra Jadeja have taken 40 wickets between them.
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Ruturaj Gaikwad plays a shot on his way to making 60 off 44 balls in Chennai Super Kings' 15-run Indian Premier League first qualifier victory against Gujarat Titans at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on May 23, 2023. AFP -
Chennai Super Kings' Devon Conway, who scored 40 off 34 balls, bats with Ruturaj Gaikwad. Getty -
Ruturaj Gaikwad of Chennai Super Kings hits out. Getty -
Chennai Super Kings' Ruturaj Gaikwad, right, raises his bat to acknowledge his fifty. AP -
Gujarat Titans' David Miller takes a catch to dismiss Chennai Super Kings' Ruturaj Gaikwad. AFP -
Mohit Sharma of Gujarat Titans celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Ruturaj Gaikwad. Getty -
Ravindra Jadeja of Chennai Super Kings is clean bowled by Mohammad Shami of Gujarat Titans. Getty -
Gujarat Titans bowler Mohammad Shami celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Devon Conway of Chennai. Getty -
Gujarat Titans' Shubman Gill plays a shot on his way to making 42 off 38 balls. AFP -
Gujarat Titans' Shubman Gill hits out. AFP -
Chennai Super Kings' Deepak Chahar celebrates the wicket of Gujrat Titans' Shubman Gill. AP
Retirements
For Chennai, most of the talk ahead of the final focused on whether legendary former India captain Dhoni would retire after the match.
But he was beaten to the punch by teammate Ambati Rayudu, who took to social media handle to announce his retirement just hours before Sunday's match.
