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Rain returned to haunt the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on Thursday as the toss for the crucial clash between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was delayed due to a drizzle at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
Dharamsala’s last game faces weather woes due to rain
The IPL officially announced the delay via X, stating, “Toss in Match 58 between @PunjabKingsIPL and @DelhiCapitals in Dharamshala delayed due to rain,”. Rain had already interfered with Punjab’s training session on Wednesday, and although the downpour wasn’t heavy on match day, the square remained under covers, raising concerns over a shortened or potentially abandoned contest.
🚨 News 🚨
Toss in Match 58 between @PunjabKingsIPL and @DelhiCapitals in Dharamshala delayed due to rain.
Stay tuned for further updates.#TATAIPL | #PBKSvDC
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 8, 2025
This match was expected to be the final fixture of the season in Dharamsala. However, continuous weather interruptions have cast a shadow over the venue’s send-off. Due to rising tensions in the region, Punjab’s next home game, originally scheduled here against Mumbai Indians, has been shifted to Ahmedabad. The uncertainty caused by weather has already disrupted four IPL 2025 games, including two full washouts. The previous rain-affected match took place between Mumbai and Gujarat Titans, making Thursday’s delay yet another in a frustrating trend this season.
IPL 2025 playoffs scenario if the match gets washed out: PBKS vs DC
The timing of this rain delay couldn’t be worse for either side. Punjab are currently sitting third on the points table with 15 points from 11 matches and are eyeing a top-two finish to gain the playoff advantage. Meanwhile, Delhi have endured an inconsistent campaign, with four losses in their last few completed games, and are presently fifth with 13 points from 11 matches. Both teams have already experienced one washout each, PBKS against Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata and DC versus Sunrisers Hyderabad earlier this week, where Delhi escaped with a point despite a poor batting show.
Also READ: IPL 2025: Players who have represented both Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in IPL T20
Should Thursday’s match be washed out, both sides will be awarded one point. This outcome would take Punjab to 16 points and bolster their playoff qualification chances significantly. On the other hand, a shared point would take Delhi to 14 points from 12 games, tightening their race to the top four. In that scenario, Delhi would have to win both of their remaining matches to secure a playoff berth without depending on other results. With the stakes this high, every lost over let alone a lost match, could prove decisive in IPL 2025’s thrilling final stretch.
Meanwhile, this outcome will also put KKR at a serious disadvantage. KKR, currently with 13 points, can now only reach a maximum of 15 points, meaning they would be eliminated from playoff contention if four teams surpass that mark.
What’s more, Delhi earning another ‘golden point,’ through rain would set up a high-stakes final league game against Mumbai on May 15. If Delhi moves to 14 and MI also find themselves at the same place if they too lost their next game, their clash could effectively turn into a virtual semi-final, with the loser likely out of the playoffs.
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