The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season just got a lot more interesting. With the threat of rain looming over the remaining matches, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced new rules to ensure that games aren’t washed out. But not everyone is happy about it.
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are fuming after the BCCI decided to add extra time to complete matches. The team’s CEO, Venky Mysore, has written to the BCCI, questioning the timing of the decision. He believes that if the new rule had been applied earlier, their match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on May 17 might not have been abandoned due to rain.
That match was a crucial one for KKR, and its abandonment led to the team’s exit from the playoff race. Mysore argues that with the new rule, they might have been able to complete a 5-over match, which could have changed the course of their season.
The new rule, which came into effect from the CSK vs Rajasthan Royals match on Tuesday, allows for an additional 60 minutes to complete a match. The BCCI says this is to mitigate the risk of matches being affected by rain, given the early arrival of the monsoon season.
But Mysore is unhappy about the way the decision was made and implemented. He feels that such changes should be made with more stability and consistency, especially in a tournament of this level. The KKR CEO is not alone in his frustration; the team’s fans are also disappointed, having seen their team’s playoff hopes slip away.
The IPL 2025 season has already been disrupted by the suspension of play due to India-Pakistan tensions. The tournament resumed on May 17, but the rain has been a constant threat. The BCCI’s decision to add extra time to complete matches might help minimize the impact of rain, but it’s clear that not everyone is on board with the new rule.
Here are the teams that will be affected by the new rule:
- Chennai Super Kings
- Rajasthan Royals
- Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Kolkata Knight Riders
- Lucknow Super Giants
- Gujarat Titans
- Royal Challengers Bangalore
- Punjab Kings
The question on everyone’s mind is: will this new rule change the course of the tournament? Only time will tell.