However, according to The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), rain might play a part in the SRH vs PBKS clash. According to IMD, there might be a possibility of rain and thunderstorm on Sunday.

SRH vs PBKS IPL 2024: Groundsmen place covers on the pitch as its rains, a day before the IPL match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings, at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, in Hyderabad. (PTI)

How drainage system works at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium

An HCA official tells The Indian Express that the stadium uses a Subsoil drainage system. It will take around 45 minutes to drain the ground completely once the rain has stopped. The stadium has five “super soppers” which is used to drain water from the covers.

SRH desperately chasing match practice

While the chances of the IPL match being a washout are remote. Even if it is a washout, SRH have already qualified for the playoffs. However, the problem Pat Cummins’ side has is a lack of match practice. They had an eight-day break before the clash against Gujarat Titans. That game was called off due to rain. Another no-game today would mean SRH would play their playoff game without match practice for nearly two weeks. (Their last IPL match was against Lucknow Super Giants on May 8).

“It’s not ideal. You prefer to have some good match practice before you go into the finals. But we can’t control that. But what we do have confidence is that we’ve played some pretty good cricket to make the playoffs. Ideally, you would play some competitive matches before you play your final – whether it’s an eliminator or the qualifier,” SRH assistant coach Simon Helmot would say ahead of the SRH vs PBKS game.

The second half of the IPL 2024 campaign has been indifferent for SRH. The Orange Army registered five wins in the first seven games and the second half, they have been inconsistent: winning three games in the next six besides a washout against GT.