Rain is forecasted for Thursday in Mohali, where the Punjab Kings will face off against the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the New PCA Stadium in the first qualifier match. The winning team will secure a spot in the final, while the losing team will get another chance, facing the winner of the eliminator match. But what if the rain disrupts the game? Which team will advance to the final, and which will head to the second qualifier? Are there any reserve days planned?
The first qualifier and eliminator matches were initially scheduled to take place in Hyderabad, but the IPL made an official announcement shifting the venues to Mohali. The playoffs kick off on Thursday, with Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings, ranked first in the points table, taking on the Royal Challengers Bangalore. RCB secured the second spot by defeating Lucknow.
In the event that the Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore match is canceled, Punjab will automatically qualify for the final, while RCB will have to compete in the second qualifier to reach the final. According to the rules, the top team in the points table is given priority.
Currently, there’s no official information on reserve days for the playoff matches. However, the BCCI has introduced a new rule, adding 120 minutes to the extra time in IPL 2025 matches. This means a full 20-over match can start as late as 9:30 PM.
Looking at the weather forecast for Mohali, Thursday is expected to be partly cloudy with a high of 36 degrees Celsius and a slight chance of light rain. However, there’s a higher chance of heavy rain on Friday, when the eliminator match between the Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans will take place. The losing team will be eliminated, and the winner will move forward. Gujarat is currently ranked third, while Mumbai is fourth in the points table.
If the match is washed out, the team with the higher ranking in the points table will advance. In this case, Punjab Kings will move to the final, and RCB will play in the second qualifier. The BCCI’s new rule aims to minimize the chances of matches being canceled due to rain, ensuring a more thrilling conclusion to the tournament.