IPL: What happens if rains affect the RCB-Punjab Kings finale today?

The countdown has begun to the toss for the IPL final in Ahmedabad this evening, but an unseasonal spell of stop-start rain has now posed a question mark over whether the match can go on without interruptions. Social media is abuzz with photos and videos of the rains, so are reports of what-if scenarios if the Royal Challengers Bengaluru-Punjab Kings match is seriously affected.

Well, there is a reserve day on 4 June if required. The playing conditions also provide for an additional two hours for the match to finish, which means the match can continue until 2.00 am if required.

Come June, and rains are not an unexpected phenomenon in India — in fact, the final between home team Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings in 2023 at the same Narendra Modi Stadium was hit by rains, with the match being played on the reserve day as a 15-over-each affair.

This time, the BCCI was quick to shift the Qualifier 2 and final from Eden Gardens in Kolkata based on forecasts of rain to ‘drier’ conditions, only to  be left somewhat red-faced.

On Sunday, the Mumbai Indians versus Punjab Kings qualifier 2 was affected by rains though thankfully, a full 20-over each match was eventually played till well past 1.00 am. The fallout must have been harsh on Shreyas Iyer’s PBKS, who had lesser time to recover with the final scheduled only at a day’s gap.

For the record, Kolkata was awarded the final as per IPL protocol of the home venue of previous year’s winners (Kolkata Knight Riders) getting the opening matches and the final. However, the final two matches were shifted to Ahmedabad, which has by default become the venue of all plum matches over the past few years since its makeover, when the fixtures had to be rejigged after the week-long suspension owing to Operation Sindoor.

Sunday’s rain, meanwhile, handed the Trinamool government in Bengal to play some politics over the venue change. Bengal sports minister Aroop Biswas said in a statement: ‘’The satellite data utilised by the BCCI and the IPL governing body, which was presented as a meteorological assessment, indicated a likelihood of rain in Kolkata during this period. Consequently, the playoffs and final were moved to Gujarat.

"Today, it is clear that cricket fans in Kolkata have been unjustly deprived of this significant sporting event owing to political motives. The same satellite that forecast potential rain in Kolkata failed to recognise the possibility of rain at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat.’’

Fans, players and broadcasters, meanwhile, can only keep their fingers crossed.