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The defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have been officially knocked out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 after the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru was washed out on May 17.
Kolkata Knight Riders, who have experienced a less than stellar season thus far, were in dire need of a win against Royal Challengers Bengaluru to keep their hopes of progressing in the competition alive. Unfortunately for them, the weather in Bengaluru had other plans, as persistent rainfall refused to cease in Bengaluru.
After a long wait, with the faint hope of staging at least a shortened five-over contest, the match officials were ultimately forced to call off the game at 10:25 PM. The unrelenting rain created concerns about the safety of the outfield, and the decision was made to avoid any potential risks to the players.
The single point earned from the abandoned match against Kolkata Knight Riders has placed Royal Challengers Bengaluru on the cusp of qualifying for the IPL playoffs. Needing just one more point from their remaining two league stage encounters, RCB are tantalizingly close to securing a spot in the final four. While they would have preferred to play the game, especially considering their dominant victory over KKR earlier in the season, the washout means they must now wait until their next fixture against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 23rd, a week away.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans had enthusiastically organized a heartfelt tribute to Virat Kohli during the KKR match, with many sporting his Test jersey at the stadium. This gesture had previously sparked some internal discussions within the RCB camp regarding the visibility of the white ball against the backdrop of white jerseys, a concern that was temporarily alleviated by the washout. However, with RCB's next match against SRH also scheduled at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, the potential issue of jersey color visibility may resurface next week if fans again choose to wear Test whites.
Despite the prolonged four-hour wait after the scheduled toss time, which ultimately resulted in the match being called off, the RCB fans maintained a cheerful and enthusiastic atmosphere for the majority of the evening. They erupted in loud cheers whenever Virat Kohli appeared on the stadium's big screen or when his impressive Test statistics were displayed on the scoreboard.
Virat Kohli, who announced his retirement from the Test format on May 12th, is expected to be highly motivated in the IPL, now relieved of the pressures of national Test duties. While Kohli has yet to publicly address his retirement and its impact on his mental well-being, sources within the RCB camp have affirmed that his current focus is solely on the IPL, and he continues to exhibit his characteristic professionalism and dedication within the team's dressing room.
Towards the end of April, Kolkata Knight Riders found themselves teetering on the edge of elimination from the IPL 2025. A glimmer of hope emerged with consecutive victories against the Delhi Capitals and the Rajasthan Royals. However, this resurgence proved short-lived as they subsequently stumbled to a defeat against the Chennai Super Kings, a team widely considered the weakest performer this season.
Facing a must-win situation in their encounter against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, KKR's fate was ultimately sealed by the intervention of persistent rain on Saturday, effectively ending their playoff aspirations.
Numerous factors have contributed to KKR's struggles throughout the current season. Their captain, Ajinkya Rahane, has failed to provide the much-needed stability and contribution in the middle order. The team's continued faith in Venkatesh Iyer has been repeatedly tested by inconsistent performances. Furthermore, their key player, Sunil Narine, has experienced a noticeable decline in his batting prowess since the departure of their former mentor, Gautam Gambhir. With little to salvage from the remainder of the season, the Kolkata Knight Riders will now be aiming to conclude their campaign on a positive note in their final match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, scheduled for Sunday, May 25th.
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