Finance
Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were eliminated from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 when Match 58 versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was called off without a toss owing to heavy rain at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.
The 2025 IPL season continues following a brief hiatus due to India-Pakistan border tensions. However, the rearranged schedule has come at a cost, with several abroad stars out for the rest of the season due to international obligations and personal reasons, potentially affecting team combinations in the playoff battle.
The washout has significant consequences on the IPL 2025 points table. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) moved up to the top with 17 points from 12 matches, overtaking Gujarat Titans (16 points from 11) and Punjab Kings (15 from 11), though both Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings will still have a game in hand.
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)’s title defence came to an end in the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. They would have 12 points after 13 games, but it would not be enough to keep them in contention. Their final league match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) would thus become a formality, thereby ending their title defence.
They had already had one no-result earlier this season against the Punjab Kings (PBKS). Meanwhile, RCB has more breathing room; even if rain affects the outcome, they still have a chance to make the playoffs and possibly finish in the top two.
Bengaluru has already had one rain-shortened encounter this year, with their game against PBKS reduced to 14 overs each side.
The postponing of IPL 2025 could affect more than simply a few matches. Bengaluru, which is scheduled to host another game on May 23 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), is under the radar as rain threatens.
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which has already endured weather disruptions this season, may face further obstacles.
Meanwhile, Mumbai, where unseasonal rainfall has been observed in the last week, is set to host a critical match between the Mumbai Indians (MI) and the Delhi Capitals (DC) on May 21. With the playoff race heating up, any additional washouts might substantially alter the qualification possibilities for several teams.
In what promises to be an emotional evening, RCB fans will wear white T-shirts to commemorate Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket. Despite the fact that rain is expected in the evening, fans plan to gather in large numbers to hail Kolhi. It began raining well before the toss, but the fans remained in the grandstand.
The encounter against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) would be Kohli’s first appearance since shocking the cricketing world by announcing his surprise retirement from red-ball cricket on May 12, during the tournament’s pause due to India-Pakistan tensions.
Source: IANS
