TATA IPL 2024: Rain Halts Match; Kolkata Advances, Gujarat Out of Playoffs
The clash between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Narendra Modi Stadium ended in abandonment due to persistent rain, with not a single delivery bowled. Consequently, each team will receive a point. The match faced initial delays due to incessant lightning and unfavorable weather conditions. As the drizzle continued unabated, captains Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill mutually agreed to call off the match at 10:42 pm, symbolically exchanging ribbons as part of breast cancer awareness.
Having accumulated 19 points in the standings, Kolkata Knight Riders have secured a guaranteed top-two position. Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans, with 11 points from 13 games, are definitively eliminated from playoff contention. Despite being mathematically in the race, their season-long net run rate of -1.063 rendered even two significant victories in their final matches insufficient to advance.
After 12 games, KKR’s dominant net run rate of 1.428 virtually guaranteed them a top-two finish, nevertheless. The 19 points in their tally always sealed the deal. This is the first time that GT has not qualified for the IPL playoffs since they joined the competition for the 2022 season. They have a consolation game against Sunrisers Hyderabad next on May 16.
KKR's next objective is to clinch the top spot in the league stage, a feat they've yet to achieve. This could materialize if they triumph over Rajasthan Royals in their final league match. Furthermore, securing the No. 1 position would be assured if Rajasthan Royals suffer defeats in their next two fixtures, one of which is against KKR. However, KKR wouldn't be overly disappointed if they didn't finish first. History shows that they've claimed the IPL title twice before when ending the league stage in the second position, in 2012 and 2014.
