The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season enters the playoffs stage with four teams fighting for the most coveted T20 trophy in franchise cricket — Gujarat Titans (GT), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Lucknow Super Giants, and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). However, the first two matches — Qualifier 1 and Eliminator — are under threat after torrential rain hit Kolkata, with the iconic Eden Gardens set to host the first two matches of the playoffs on Tuesday (May 24) and Wednesday (May 25) respectively.
Ahead of the two crucial ties of IPL 2022, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly was seen checking out the pitch of Eden Gardens as the stadium prepares to entertain fans for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world. In a social media post tweeted by The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), the former India captain is seen checking out the field and whether the covers were properly put on the field ahead of the Qualifier 1 clash between GT and RR.
Kolkata has been hit by a nor'wester, which is locally called 'Kalbaisakhi,' with wind speeds of up to 90 kilometres per hour causing flight disruptions at the Kolkata airport and also killing one on Saturday, May 21. According to reports, there is a 65 per cent chance of rain lashing the capital of West Bengal.
Guidelines in case of IPL playoffs wash-out
On Monday, the IPL released new guidelines to determine the result of the playoffs' matches in case of any disruption. A Super Over will now decide the result if any of the IPL playoff matches, including the summit clash, is disrupted by the weather and no play is possible in regulation time. Not just this but in case the ground conditions continue to remain unplayable, then the league standings will be used to identify the winners, an IPL briefing note has confirmed.
In case the match gets delayed in the first three playoff fixtures, the game can commence at 9:40 pm and the final game can start at 10:10 pm as the playoffs guidelines mentioned, as reported by ESPNCricinfo.
"The number of overs in the playoff match may, if necessary, be reduced so that each side has the opportunity to bat for five overs," read the IPL guidelines.
No timeouts will be in place for a five-over innings. The cut-off start time for the same would be 11.56 PM and 12.26 AM for the final. For the Super Overs to begin, it should be at 12.50 AM and 1.20 AM for the playoffs and final, respectively.
"For the Eliminator and each Qualifier playoff matches (where there is no reserve day), in the event that it is not possible to schedule a five-over match to complete by the end of the extra time on an original day, the teams will, if conditions permit, play a Super Over to determine the winner of the relevant Eliminator or Qualifier match," the guidelines further added.
