Heavy rain is poised to disrupt the IPL 2025 restart, as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are set to face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Bengaluru on 17 May. According to Accuweather, thunderstorms with heavy downpours are anticipated from Saturday afternoon into the evening. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) concurs, predicting evening rain or thundershowers.
Both teams have adapted their training schedules in response to the weather. RCB practised between 2pm and 5pm to dodge potential showers, states team director Mo Bobat. KKR wrapped up their session between 5pm and 6.30pm. Remarkably, Bengaluru has dealt with consistent rainfall all week, with Friday’s downpour beginning post-training at about 9.30pm and extending for four hours. Thursday night’s weather was similar.
Should the weather force the match’s abandonment, KKR’s playoff hopes would dim. Currently on 11 points with two matches left, a washout limits them to a maximum of 14 points—insufficient for playoff qualification. This follows an earlier season washout versus Punjab Kings. In contrast, RCB would remain in playoff contention, still eyeing a top-two finish even if the match is cancelled. A prior match in Bengaluru against Punjab Kings was rain-shortened to 14 overs per side.
Bobat emphasized the unpredictability of weather on match day, noting the excellent drainage system at M Chinnaswamy Stadium allows swift play resumption post-rain. “When you get to game day, you can’t control it,” Bobat remarked. “You want your players to feel as clear and relaxed as possible. You trust them to make decisions in the moment, regardless of what happens.”
The rain threat extends beyond individual matches. Bengaluru is slated to host RCB versus Sunrisers Hyderabad on 23 May, while Mumbai, experiencing atypical rainfall, is set to host Mumbai Indians (MI) versus Delhi Capitals (DC) on 21 May. The forecast predicts clear weather for the Bengaluru match but rain on the eve of it. Meanwhile, Kolkata, scheduled for the qualifier 2 and final, often encounters monsoon rains starting in early June. The final on 3 June at Eden Gardens could also be at risk.
Original reporting by Ashish Pant, sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo.
