The rain gods have started firing in all cylinders in the IPL 2025 match in Kolkata on Saturday (April 26). As Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings play Match 44, in the second innings, it has started raining.
PBKS, opting to bat first, posted a formidable total of 201/4, thanks to a commanding opening partnership between Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, who collectively added 120 runs. Arya's aggressive 69 off 35 balls and Singh's steady 83 off 49 deliveries set the tone for PBKS's innings. KKR's bowlers, despite efforts from Andre Russell and Varun Chakaravarthy, struggled to contain the onslaught.

As KKR commenced their chase, reaching 7/0 in the first over, a sudden dust storm accompanied by rain interrupted play, leading to covers being brought onto the field. The abrupt weather change has cast uncertainty over the match's outcome.
KKR: 7th place, 6 points from 8 matches (3 wins, 5 losses), Net Run Rate (NRR): +0.212
PBKS: 5th place, 10 points from 8 matches (5 wins, 3 losses), NRR: +0.177
If the match is abandoned without a result, both teams receive 1 point each.
KKR: 7 points from 9 matches. (Rank: 7th)
PBKS: 11 points from 9 matches. (Rank: 4th)
KKR's path to the playoffs is already challenging. With 6 matches remaining before this fixture, they needed to win at least 5 to reach the 16-point mark, a typical threshold for playoff qualification.
Hindustan Times
A no-result would mean KKR must win all of their remaining 5 matches to achieve 16 points. Any further slip-ups would reduce their maximum attainable points, making qualification increasingly unlikely.
For PBKS, a shared point would bring them to 11 points from 9 matches. They would then need to secure at least 3 wins from their remaining 5 matches to reach 17 points, which should suffice for playoff qualification. Their current position is relatively secure, but they cannot afford complacency. It will also mean PBKS enter in Top Four for now in the points table.