The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), defending champions of the Indian Premier League, have expressed their dissatisfaction with what they describe as an “ad hoc” decision by the IPL to grant an additional 120 minutes for rain-affected matches. This decision, they argue, could have changed the outcome of their playoff hopes had it been implemented earlier in the tournament’s resumption.
On Tuesday, the IPL Governing Council decided to amend the playing conditions, allowing for an extra 120 minutes during the remaining nine league matches to accommodate rain delays. Previously, only one extra hour was permitted beyond the scheduled finish time (10.56 pm for evening matches), with an additional two hours allocated only for the four playoff fixtures.
In an email to the ten franchises, made available to ESPNcricinfo, IPL Chief Operating Officer Hemang Amin explained that this decision was made due to a potential increase in rain risks caused by the early onset of the monsoon.
KKR’s CEO Venky Mysore responded critically to the timing of this announcement, suggesting that such adjustments should have been implemented from the league’s restart. He remarked, “While these mid-season changes to the rules may be necessary under the circumstances, one would have expected more consistency in applying such changes.”
The match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and KKR on 17 May was the IPL’s first fixture after a suspension caused by cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. Fans at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, eager to celebrate Virat Kohli’s career following his Test cricket retirement, were disappointed as rain prevented play from commencing. The game was abandoned at 10.26 pm without a single ball bowled, sharing points between the teams and dampening KKR’s playoff aspirations.
Mysore suggested that with the newly approved provision, a shortened contest could have been possible: “When the IPL re-started, it was clear that the first game on May 17 KKR vs RCB was at high risk of being interrupted due to rain in [Bengaluru]. The forecast was there for all to see. Not only was the game washed out but the additional 120 mins, now being applied may have provided a chance of at least a 5 over a side game.”
The washout conclusively ended KKR’s playoff possibilities, leaving them frustrated with the perceived inconsistency. “Such ad hoc decision and inconsistencies of applying them are not appropriate for a tournament of this standing,” Mysore added.
