The game’s abandonment due to rain ensured that KKR, who now have 19 points with a match to go against Rajasthan Royals, gained one point to finish in the upper echelons of the league table.
The achievement means that KKR now have an advantage of going into the playoffs, with a chance to go directly into the final.
The team’s consistent performance throughout the season has been pivotal in reaching this stage.
On the other hand, last-year’s runners-up Gujarat Titans have been knocked out of the play-off race after rain forced their IPL match against KKR to be abandoned without toss taking place.
The Kolkata side’s track record highlights the significance of finishing in the top two during the league stage. Their previous triumphs in 2012 and 2014 came after securing top-two positions in the league standings.
As soon as the match got called off, KKR took to social media platform X and stated: “WE WILL PLAY QUALIFIER 1 AFTER 10 YEARS.”
The top four teams will make the play-offs, but the first and second-placed sides have the advantage of two chances to qualify for the final on May 26 in Chennai.
The unanticipated rainfall in Ahmedabad left countless fans disheartened at the world’s largest cricket stadium. Despite the eager anticipation, the rain persisted for nearly five hours, leading to the captains eventually deciding to forgo the toss altogether.
Shubman Gill’s Gujarat team, who clinched the IPL title in their inaugural season in 2022 under Hardik Pandya’s leadership, now finds themselves eliminated from contention, alongside Mumbai Indians and the bottom-ranked Punjab Kings.
In contrast, Kolkata side, led by Shreyas Iyer, has emerged as the team to beat in this edition, boasting an impressive record of 10 wins and 19 points from 13 matches, securing their place at the top of the table ahead of second-placed Rajasthan Royals.
With six teams, including defending champions Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, still in contention, the race for the remaining three spots in the playoffs remains intense and closely contested.
(With AFP inputs)
Source Agencies
