IPL returned but rain gods had other plans: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were officially eliminated from the IPL 2025 playoff race after their must-win match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was called off due to heavy downpour at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday evening.
Persistent downpour through the evening left the ground unplayable, forcing match officials to abandon the game without a ball being bowled.
With both teams sharing one point each, the result mathematically ended KKR's hopes of qualifying for the knockouts.
Kolkata, placed sixth on the table before the match, needed a win to stay in contention. The washout leaves them with 13 points from as many games, not enough to break into the top four as other teams hold a superior net run rate or more points.
Also Read: IPL resumes today- Check complete revised schedule, updated squads, points table, most runs and wickets, and other key details
RCB, who were second with 16 points from 11 games, moved to 17 with the shared point and but are yet to seal their place in the playoffs with two league matches remaining.
The washout comes after a 10-day break in the tournament, and the long-anticipated fixture was expected to be a key decider in the playoff equation.
The abandonment left several of home fans disappointed, especially those who turned up in white jerseys bearing Virat Kohli’s name. Supporters had worn whites to pay tribute to the RCB batter after his recent retirement from Test cricket, hoping to watch him in action during what could be his final game of the season at the venue.
Despite forecasts predicting evening showers, hopes remained for a shortened match.
Persistent downpour through the evening left the ground unplayable, forcing match officials to abandon the game without a ball being bowled.
With both teams sharing one point each, the result mathematically ended KKR's hopes of qualifying for the knockouts.
Kolkata, placed sixth on the table before the match, needed a win to stay in contention. The washout leaves them with 13 points from as many games, not enough to break into the top four as other teams hold a superior net run rate or more points.
Also Read: IPL resumes today- Check complete revised schedule, updated squads, points table, most runs and wickets, and other key details
RCB, who were second with 16 points from 11 games, moved to 17 with the shared point and but are yet to seal their place in the playoffs with two league matches remaining.
The washout comes after a 10-day break in the tournament, and the long-anticipated fixture was expected to be a key decider in the playoff equation.
The abandonment left several of home fans disappointed, especially those who turned up in white jerseys bearing Virat Kohli’s name. Supporters had worn whites to pay tribute to the RCB batter after his recent retirement from Test cricket, hoping to watch him in action during what could be his final game of the season at the venue.
Despite forecasts predicting evening showers, hopes remained for a shortened match.
