Not just once, but twice, did the commencement of the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 match between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians get disrupted because of rain in Ahmedabad. The scene left MI owners Akash and Nita Ambani clearly perturbed.
Pre-Match Forecasts Prove Inaccurate Despite Clear Predictions
Even though Ahmedabad had plenty of rain in the pre-playoffs match, which did generate some doubts about playing a whole game at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the weather forecast indicated dry and friendly weather. Still, the match got two interruptions, immediately after Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and decided to bowl first, considering the overhead conditions.
Players Take Field, But Rain Returns to Delay the Action in IPL
As the players prepared to take to the field, with images of Mumbai No. 3 Tilak Varma taking shadow practice at batting in the dugout, the camera was snapping the groundsmen sprinting to cover the pitch. A light drizzle had left them to move quickly, but the covers were removed straight away.
Downpour Begins Again as PBKS Players Enter, Leaving Ambanis Anxious
The Punjab Kings players then marched out amidst pyro techniques, before Iyer was spotted sprinting towards the boundary ropes as the heavy showers began in Ahmedabad. As the rest of the players made their way to the respective dugouts, Akash and Nita were left worried, as a rain-hit game could bring an end to Mumbai’s campaign on Sunday.
IPL Rules Give Advantage to Higher-Placed Team in Case of Washout
“If conditions do not permit a Super Over, or subsequent Super Overs within the time available to determine the winner then the team which, at the end of the relevant regular Season, finished in the higher position in the League will be deemed the winner of the relevant play-off match,” clarify the IPL’s Playing Conditions notice for the 2025 edition of the tournament.
Since no reserve day was allocated for the Qualifier 2 match, a washout in Ahmedabad would promote Punjab Kings to the final since they were placed higher in the points table at the end of the league stage. The Iyer team had been the top of the table, and Mumbai were placed fourth.
