The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 fixture between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), scheduled for Saturday in Bengaluru, faces the possibility of disruption due to heavy rain, according to weather forecasts.
ESPNcricinfo reports thunderstorms, some potentially severe, are expected from Saturday afternoon through the evening. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has also forecast chances of rain or thundershowers later in the day.
The uncertain weather conditions influenced the teams’ training schedules. RCB opted to train earlier, from 2 pm to 5 pm, with Director of Cricket Mo Bobat explaining the timing was chosen “due to the uncertain weather.” KKR began their practice around 5 pm but concluded within 90 minutes.
Bengaluru has witnessed persistent rainfall this week, with showers starting late on Friday night and continuing for several hours, mirroring the previous night’s weather.
A washed-out match could severely impact KKR’s prospects of reaching the playoffs. The team currently holds 11 points with two matches remaining. Should the game be abandoned and points shared, their maximum possible tally would be 14 points — insufficient to secure qualification. Earlier in the season, KKR’s clash with Punjab Kings was also abandoned due to rain.
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In contrast, RCB’s position is more secure. Even if Saturday’s game is called off, they remain favourably placed to qualify and potentially finish in the top two. Last month, another RCB home game at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, against Punjab Kings, was reduced to 14 overs per side owing to rain.
Mo Bobat, speaking to ESPNcricinfo, remarked, “When you get to game day, you can't control it. So, actually, you want your players to feel as clear and relaxed as possible. You trust them to make decisions in the moment, regardless of what happens.”
He added, “We don't overthink any of those things really. If the game's rain affected, it's rain affected. It's not something any of us control. So, we don't really think too much about that, but it might influence our preparation.”
Fortunately, the Chinnaswamy Stadium boasts a top-quality drainage system, allowing play to resume quickly once the rain ceases.
The uncertain weather could affect further fixtures. Bengaluru will host another match on May 23 between RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Mumbai, which has already experienced unexpected rainfall, is scheduled to host Mumbai Indians versus Delhi Capitals on May 21.
Kolkata, set to host Qualifier 2 and the final on June 3, typically sees the onset of the monsoon in early June. If the final proceeds at Eden Gardens, rain could yet play a role.
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