Hosting an IPL match is a logistical undertaking at the best of times. Hosting three — each disrupted by rain, each requiring rapid pitch intervention — demands a level of operational precision that rarely makes headlines. At Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, that burden fell squarely on the curator and groundsmen, and on Sunday the Assam Cricket Association made clear it had not gone unrecognised, announcing a cash reward of ₹25 lakh (approx. US$27k) for the ground staff who kept all three Rajasthan Royals home fixtures on the field.
Guwahati’s rain test
Rajasthan Royals have used Barsapara as their alternate home base for IPL 2026, and the venue’s spell in the national spotlight was immediately stress-tested by weather. The opening fixture against Chennai Super Kings went ahead, with the Royals winning by eight wickets. Rain then forced the Mumbai Indians clash into an 11-over-a-side contest, which Rajasthan still won by 27 runs. The third match, against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, started late after rain delayed proceedings — though no overs were lost — with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Dhruv Jurel putting on a show for the home crowd. In each instance, it was the ground crew that determined whether play was possible at all.
ACA Announces ₹25 Lakh cash reward for Ground Staff after 3 Successful IPL Matches
Behind the successful hosting of three Indian Premier League matches at ACA Stadium, Guwahati, stands a team that works tirelessly away from the spotlight — our dedicated ground staff.
Despite… pic.twitter.com/dcWJ26SBQa
— Assam Cricket Association (@assamcric) April 12, 2026
ACA’s institutional recognition
The ACA framed its reward announcement in direct terms, stating on X that “behind the successful hosting of three Indian Premier League matches at ACA Stadium, Guwahati, stands a team that works tirelessly away from the spotlight — our dedicated ground staff.” ACA president Taranga Gogoi, secretary Sanatan Das, and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia were all part of the association’s acknowledgement, reflecting leadership-level sign-off on a gesture that goes beyond routine appreciation. The association confirmed in an official statement that “working under challenging weather conditions, the curator and groundsmen ensured that the pitches were prepared and maintained to the highest standards,” adding that “their efforts were central to the smooth conduct of the matches and helped uphold the venue’s growing reputation on the national stage.”
The reward
The financial commitment was stated explicitly. “In recognition of their invaluable contribution, Assam Cricket Association is proud to announce a reward of ₹25 lakh for the curator and groundsmen,” the association wrote on X. The ACA closed its statement with a line aimed directly at the staff: “The true backbone of match operations — your efforts do not go unnoticed.”
Barsapara has been building its IPL credentials steadily, and the ACA’s decision to back its ground crew with a structured financial reward sets a marker for how associations can institutionalise recognition for the roles that make match-day possible.
