You can insure revenue, not fan experience: IPL chairman Arun Dhumal

The Kolkata Knight Riders secured their first point of the season without a win, while Punjab Kings missed the opportunity to strengthen their playoff hopes and register a seventh consecutive victory after rain played spoilsport in Kolkata on April 6.

Although the washout did not result in any financial loss for the Indian cricket board, as the match was covered by insurance, such disruptions could largely be avoided if more major cricket centres adopted the advanced underground drainage systems currently in place at only two Indian venues — Bengaluru and Dharamshala.

With weather interruptions increasingly affecting tournaments across the globe, investing in world-class drainage infrastructure may no longer be a luxury but a necessity.“Predicting rain is difficult. We don’t know when it starts pouring at a time when global warming is a concern,” IPL chairman Arun Dhumal told CricBlogger.

The most encouraging part of the story is that Dharamshala, which had witnessed several rain-disrupted matches over the years, learned the hard way. Located in one of the wettest regions of India, the venue regularly faces heavy rainfall, making it imperative to find a long-term solution.

Installing the SubAir drainage system proved to be the answer. Anurag Thakur’s successor and former Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association chief Arun Dhumal, who played a key role in implementing the mechanism, is understandably pleased with the results. The system has made it possible for cricket to resume within 30 minutes, even after prolonged and heavy rainfall, ensuring that weather disruptions have a minimal impact on the game.

The recent India vs Afghanistan ODI is a perfect example of why such infrastructure matters. Although the match was shortened to 25 overs a side because of rain, fans still got to witness an entertaining contest instead of a complete washout.

More importantly, the game demonstrated how modern drainage systems can help preserve the spectacle of cricket even in challenging weather conditions, ensuring that players, broadcasters, sponsors and spectators are not deprived of the action.

“One game lost through rain could affect all the stakeholders,” Dhumal said while adding: “The broadcaster, players and team equation at times very critical. Even the fans, who travel from different corners of the world to witness a game, are crestfallen when a match is disrupted due to rain.”

The IPL chairman also stressed that fans are the most important stakeholders in the game and that their sentiments can never be taken for granted.

“You can insure the broadcaster’s revenue, but the most important aspect is the fans. For many of them, a washout results in a personal loss. Their travel and hotel expenses may go to waste, apart from the time they invest to be at the stadium,” Dhumal said.

With broadcasters paying nearly ₹120 crore per IPL match, a cancellation can have significant financial implications. While insurance may cover immediate losses, frequent claims can also lead to substantially higher insurance premiums in subsequent years. “You can insure revenue, but not fan experience,” Dhumal added.