Heavy rain is predicted for Bengaluru on May 17, when RCB play KKR, which could negatively impact the start of the 2025 IPL.
Heavy thunderstorms are predicted for Saturday afternoon through Saturday night, according to Accuweather. Additionally, one or two nighttime rain or thundershower spells were forecast on the Indian Meteorological Department’s (IMD) website.
The scheduling of the RCB and KKR training sessions on match eve was influenced by the weather. According to team director Mo Bobat, the decision to hold RCB’s practice session from 2 to 5 p.m. was made in light of the evening’s unpredictable weather forecast. Training for KKR began at 5 p.m. and ended at 6.30 p.m.
Bengaluru has had a fairly wet week, with nearly every area of the city receiving enough rainfall. Long after both teams had finished their practice sessions, at approximately 9.30 p.m. on Friday, the rain began to fall and continued for at least the following four hours. It was the same on Thursday evening.
If rain forces an abandonment, KKR’s prospects of making the playoffs are over. With two games remaining and 11 points, KKR can only reach a maximum of 14 if points are shared, which is insufficient for a postseason berth. Earlier in the season, they had already lost one game to the Punjab Kings.
Even if the game is washed out, RCB will still have a good chance of making it to the playoffs and finishing in the top two. The RCB-Punjab Kings (PBKS) game was already cut short to 14 overs each side due to rain in Bengaluru last month.
Although the weather had an impact on their training, Bobat stated that if it rains on match day, there isn’t much anyone can do. It is also important to note that the M Chinnaswamy Stadium has a cutting-edge drainage technology that enables play to continue minutes after the rain has stopped.
On match eve, Bobat remarked, “You can’t control it when you get to game day.” The goal is for your players to feel as calm and clear as possible. Regardless of what occurs, you have faith in them to make decisions on the spot.
“Really, we don’t overthink any of those issues. If the game was impacted by the rain, then it was. None of us have any influence over it. Therefore, we don’t give that much thought, although it could affect how we prepare.
More than just the odd game may be impacted by the postponing. While Mumbai, which has already experienced unusually high levels of rainfall, will host the Mumbai Indians (MI) vs. Delhi Capitals (DC) match on May 21, Bengaluru has one more match to host on May 23 (RCB vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad).
Although rain is predicted for the day before the game, the forecast for the four days leading up to the game is clear. The June 3 final, if it is hosted in the city’s Eden Gardens, may be impacted because Kolkata, which was initially selected to host the qualifier 2 and final, often experiences the start of the monsoon season in the first week of June.