Fact Check: Was Hair Dryer Used To Dry Pitch In IPL 2023 Final

IPL 2023 Final: Several netizens claimed that a hair dryer was used to dry the pitch in the IPL 2023 final.

A few netizens said pointed out that the image was from the IPL 2023 final. ( Image Source :Twitter/@nchaturvedi_007 )

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 final was a rain-interrupted affair. The match which was as per the original schedule slated to be held on May 29 (Sunday), ended when it was way past 1'o clock in the morning on Tuesday. Rain made no play possible on Sunday which was when the reserve day came into the picture. In the reserve day, GT, asked to bat first posted 214/4 in their 20 overs before rain returned in the CSK innings.

As is the trend these days, social media was flooded with all kinds of reactions and amid those, an old picture of ground staff being used to dry a pitch is going viral. While a few netizens said pointed out that the image was from the IPL 2023 final, this is in fact, a false claim.

Have a look at the reactions here:

World's Wealthiest Board BCCI Using Ultra-Modern Technology. 😂 #IPL2023Finals pic.twitter.com/VgHyZHOhva

— kurukuru kha (@kurukurukha) May 29, 2023

87 Crores of Budget for IPL 2023 league and 80rs Hair Dryer to Dry This stadium😅😂🤷🏻‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/RluzWJBCz1

— Madhuri Adnal (@madhuriadnal) May 29, 2023

BCCI whose net worth is Rs. 16450 Crores drying the pitch using a hair dryer of worth Rs. 499 ...#IPL2023Finals #CSKvGT #BCCI pic.twitter.com/ENXmLCAKAl

— Swati Dis'Qualified😍Dixit ಸ್ವಾತಿ (@vibewidyou) May 29, 2023

BCCI Using Ultra-Modern Technology. 🥵#IPL2023Finals #GTvsMI pic.twitter.com/srTNIc9jjP

— SudarshaN 🇮🇳 (@ImSudarshan67) May 29, 2023

Using Hair dryer by richest cricket board 😭#IPL2023Finals #CSKvGT pic.twitter.com/wcQfvw2anZ

— 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒅𝒊 (@nchaturvedi_007) May 29, 2023

Contrary to as is being claimed in the abovementioned tweets, the image is not from the IPL 2023 final but is from the 1st India vs Sri Lanka T20I match at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati in January 2020. A tweet dating back to 2020 which was in criticism of the outdated tactics used to dry up the pitch for this game uses the same image which has been claimed to be from the IPL 2023 final.

1980 - will have flying cars in 2020

2020 - drying pitch with hair dryer #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/H6EM1zQwzm

— dp (@_dp912) January 5, 2020

As far as the cricketing action is concerned, CSK beat GT by 5 wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in the final to clinch their fifth title. The equation came down to 10 needed off the final 2 balls which was when Ravindra Jadeja came to his team's rescue, hitting a six and a four to help his team to a historic triumph.