The toss for the IPL 2026 game between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has been delayed to a wet outfield after heavy precipitation in Raipur.
The good news is that the rain has been completely stopped, and the covers are being removed. The on-field umpires have set an official inspection of the pitch at 8:15 PM IST to analyse the playing conditions.
Cut-off times and over reductions
The ground staff at the venue are leaving no stones unturned to clear the standing water and ensure conditions are good enough for a safe play as rain continues to threaten the game. As per the match regulations, a full 20-overs per-side game can be played if the play begins by 9:30 PM IST, which remains the key cut-off time for a complete fixture.
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Truncated game on the cards?
However if the delay extends beyond 9:30 PM IST, overs will begin to be reduced at a rate of approximately one over for every seven to eight minutes lost. On the other hand, 10:56 PM IST has been decided as the final deadline to kickoff the match, allowing only a minimum five-overs-per-side game if conditions improve in time.
Kris Srikkanth wants Venkatesh Iyer in RCB's playing XI
there are a few concerns about RCB's playing XI as star players like Jacob Bethell and Romario Shepherd have failed to perform as per the expectations in the last few games. Opener Jacob Bethell failed to score big after getting a decent start in the win against Mumbai Indians, scoring only 27 off 27 balls.
Former India skipper Kris Srikkanth has urged the Rajat Patidar-led side to drop the English all-rounder and give chance to Venkatesh Iyer in the lineup.
"They should drop Shepherd as he hasn't scored in his last two to three innings. They can continue with Bethell. But I will play Venkatesh Iyer instead at that position. There is no compulsion that you have to play a fourth foreigner," said Srikkanth on his YouTube channel.
Jacob Bethell's poor show in IPL 2026
The star English all-rounder has failed to live up to the expectations, replacing Phil Salt at the opening slot, who left the team due to an injury. In five outings, the left-handed batter has managed to score only 69 runs at an average of 13.80 and a poor strike rate of 111.29.
Bethell managed to register his highest score of 27 off 27 balls in the game against MI, where RCB secured a close two-wicket win.