IPL 2023 KKR vs LSG Playoffs Scenario: What happens if rain washes out match at Eden Gardens

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Kolkata Knight Riders need a victory in their final match against Lucknow Super Giants to have any chance of going to the playoffs. They are taking on LSG at Eden Gardens on Saturday (May 20).

But as KKR prepare for the final showdown, there may well be an inevitable factor named nature which denies them a playoff spot without even a fight. KKR's dismal Net Run Rate this season means they need a massive margin of win in the match.

Kolkata Weather on Saturday can be Menacing

But KKR may not get a chance to play if the rain gods open the floodgates. Kolkata has seen rain in the past week or so. There was a quick but robust shower even of Friday evening as well.

The arrival of Cyclone 'Mocha' in the Bangladesh and Myanmar coast has further assisted in the arrival of rain in West Bengal. Since May 17, the weather in Kolkata has been stormy and has seen occasional rain and thunderstorms.

And it can be the same on Saturday as well. With the scorching heat in the daytime and excessive humidity, it is all in the making for a thunderstorm or Norwester, which are quite common in these parts of the world around this time.

Saturday Weather Forecast in Kolkata

So far, there is no rain in Kolkata. The temperature has been stuffy and there is still a decent cloud cover, but nothing alarming yet. The updated weather forecast also suggests a very low chance of rain, but there is always a chance of sudden formation of clouds and a local thunderstorm.

What happens to KKR if Rain plays spoilsport on Saturday?

The last thing KKR would want is rain spoiling whatever slim chance they have to progress. Although it will be an uphill task, but KKR would love to at least finish on a winning note. If rain occurs and the match gets abandoned, KKR will be eliminated from the tournament.

Rain can act as an aid for LSG

On the contrary, a rainy evening in Kolkata can work just perfectly for Lucknow Super Giants. An abandoned match will take LSG to 16 points, same as MI and RCB if they win their respective matches on Sunday.

With Lucknow's superior NRR (+0.304), things can work perfectly fine for them. Then it will be trouble for Mumbai Indians, who have the worse NRR (-0.128) compared to RCB (+0.180). MI then have to win by a massive margin to overtake LSG's NRR, which is improbable with just one match to play.