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The highly anticipated Qualifier 2 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians is currently under the shadow of inclement weather, as rain interrupted proceedings even before the first ball could be bowled at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
In this crucial knockout clash, the winner is set to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the grand final scheduled for June 3. PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bowl first in what was expected to be a closely contested encounter. However, just as the teams prepared to take the field, dark clouds gathered, prompting the ground staff to bring on the covers. The rain has since played hide and seek, forcing the start of the match to be delayed and heightening concerns about a possible washout. Though the weather forecast suggests some improvement, a definitive start time remains uncertain, and match officials are monitoring the situation closely.
What happens if PBKS vs MI Qualifier 2 gets washed out?
As per the multiple media reports, if the match is completely washed out and no result is possible, the team that finished higher in the points table will progress to the final. This clause has now come into the spotlight due to the persistent weather interruptions. Punjab, who finished first in the league stage standings ahead of Mumbai, would therefore advance to the final in the event of a complete washout. Unlike the IPL final, which has a reserve day to accommodate weather disruptions, there is no reserve day allotted for Qualifier 2. This means that any rain-forced abandonment will lead to PBKS qualifying by default, thanks to their superior Net Run Rate (NRR) and higher position in the standings compared to MI, who finished fourth.
Also READ: Punjab Kings or Mumbai Indians? AB de Villiers reveals his pick to face RCB in the IPL 2025 final
Additional buffer time allotted to complete the match
In an effort to prevent rain from affecting the outcome of knockout matches, the IPL governing council has recently preemptively allocated an additional two-hour buffer for all playoff games, including Qualifier 2. This contingency ensures that even if rain interrupts play temporarily, match officials and ground staff will have ample time to resume the match within the extended window. The organizers are keen to see a fair contest on the field and avoid any anti-climactic ending due to weather. As of now, efforts are ongoing to make the ground ready, and fans across the world remain hopeful that the skies will clear up, allowing this critical match to proceed and produce a deserving finalist to challenge RCB in the ultimate showdown.
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