The Test match between India and Sri Lanka, held at the International Stadium in Galle, was repeatedly interrupted by rain. Although the match concluded with an Indian team victory, the work of about 130 stadium ground staff under Manjula continued even after the game ended.
Throughout the match, the weather presented constant difficulties: sudden clouds and heavy rain required immediate action from the personnel. Each time, the team quickly ran to cover the field with special tarpaulins. These efforts attracted the attention of Indian wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant, who shared his impressions of the staff's work in an Instagram story.
Rishabh Pant posted three photos demonstrating the staff's work during a heavy downpour, the fully covered field, and the process of removing the heavy tarps after the weather improved. He wrote in his post: 'Thank you to the staff and support personnel. Your work and cooperation were incredible, especially during the rain. I sincerely appreciate it.'
Approximately 130 people work at the international competitions in Galle, but only 16 are permanent employees. An additional 10 workers from Hambantota are brought in for major events, and the rest are hired daily for matches and training sessions. Manjula told TOI that daily workers are paid between 2,500 and 4,000 Sri Lankan Rupees. Despite the large number of people, there was no chaos on the field during the rain because the duties of each group were predetermined: some protect the pitch, others cover the square, the running area, and the outfield.
The location of the International Stadium in Galle poses a challenge for the ground staff, but it also serves as an indicator of weather conditions. The staff monitors the clouds over the Indian Ocean, located near Galle Fort. As soon as signs of cloudiness appear over the sea, the team enters a state of readiness. Upon receiving the official signal, the pitch is covered first, followed by the square and the running area for bowlers, and then the entire outfield is covered.
According to Manjula, the most critical aspect of this procedure is the 'reaction time.'
Although heavy downpours occur briefly in Galle, even a small delay can cause significant damage to the field. The speed of the stadium staff allows the team to cover the field in less than five minutes. When signs of rain appear, employees run with tarps in different directions. The team responsible for covering the pitch and the square must work in coordination so that the tarps do not tangle. Then, the safety of the running area and the rest of the outfield is ensured.
Covering the field requires not only speed but also enormous physical effort. One 100x100 tarp can weigh over 650 kilograms. About 28 such tarps are used to protect the entire field. This means that when rain starts, the staff must deliver and spread thousands of kilograms of material within minutes. Due to its proximity to the sea, an additional problem arises—strong crosswinds. More than 300 rubber tires are used to secure the heavy tarps, laid over them so that the wind cannot move them. Even after the weather improves, the quick and careful removal of the tarps from the field is equally important to prepare it for play.