Barabati’s ground staff fighting against the rain, team busy in organizing the match

Cuttack, September 29: When the cricket match is stopped due to rain and the players and spectators wait for the weather to clear, then the ground staff of the stadium starts struggling to make the field playable again. A similar scene was seen at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack during the Bharat Masala Odisha T20 League-CM Trophy, where the ground staff played an important role in starting the match whenever possible.

Barabati Stadium ground staff member Hrishikesh Singh, also known as Keshav, has been associated with this work for nearly 20 years. He said that preparing the field during the rainy season is very challenging, but experience and teamwork helps in handling difficult situations.

He said that after the rain stops, the pitch is prepared first and then work is done on the outfield. About 50 to 60 people are involved in this work, which includes 12 ground staff members. It takes at least one and a half to two hours to make the pitch playable.

Singh said that the work has to start as soon as the rain stops, because the match is already late and time is limited. The entire team prepares the grounds together with different techniques. He said that teamwork is most important in this work.

Hrishikesh Singh also appreciated the cooperation of the organizers. He said that the team’s aim is always to start the match as soon as the weather conditions become favourable.