Fans are awaiting Saturday's high-stakes Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as heavy rain threatens to disrupt the crucial encounter. The match, scheduled for the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, holds immense weight for both teams, with the winner likely securing a playoff spot.
However, Bengaluru has witnessed significant rainfall in the last few days, raising concerns about a washout. Despite the gloomy weather forecasts, optimism remains due to the stadium's advanced SubAir drainage system.
A video showing the SubAir drainage system efficiently draining a pool of water from the outfield has surfaced on social.
How the SubAir system works?
The SubAir system, developed by a US-based company called SubAir, operates using a 200-horsepower machine and functions in two modes: pressure mode and suction mode. The latter, powered by vacuum, is utilized to remove water from the outfield, with the SubAir system capable of extracting up to 10,000 litres of water per minute. A critical feature of the SubAir system is its ability to initiate water removal upon the onset of rain, expediting the drying process and minimizing the formation of puddles on the outfield.
In pressure mode, the SubAir system provides fresh air to the grassroots and operates as its default setting. Remote sensors were integrated into various sections of the Chinnaswamy stadium outfield during installation to detect water levels. When the water surpasses normal levels, the sensors signal the machine to switch automatically to suction mode.
However, the installation of the system did not guarantee immediate flushing of water and resumption of play after rain. Groundskeepers had to excavate the area and replace the old red soil base, in use since 1968, with a new sand base to ensure optimal functioning of the SubAir system. P.R. Viswanathan, the BCCI’s South Zone curator, explained to ESPN Cricinfo in 2017, "If you take regular soil and water, it will swell and become a lump, which does not happen with sand. The drainage system takes the water out, but in other kinds of soil, the surface moisture is retained. Sand, on the other hand, does not hold water."
The SubAir system operates digitally, with preset schedules, primarily activating the pressure mode every hour to aerate the roots. This frequency can vary based on weather conditions. Notably, the system's ability to control dew, especially relevant during winter in Bengaluru, can prove advantageous during events like the World Cup.
The upcoming RCB-CSK clash is pivotal, with the winner likely securing the final playoff spot. Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Rajasthan Royals have already qualified. The SubAir system's presence increases the chances of minimal interruption or delay, allowing the match to proceed or resume quickly.