What changes for teams with BCCI’s new timing rule for rain-hit games?

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made significant announcements on Tuesday regarding the venues for the IPL 2025 playoffs and final, along with a crucial update to the tournament`s playing conditions.

In light of persistent heavy rainfall in Bengaluru over recent days, the IPL Governing Council has decided to relocate the upcoming fixture between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad, initially scheduled to take place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The match will now be held at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Friday.

Alongside the venue shift, the BCCI also introduced an important change to the rain-affected match protocol. In an official statement, the board confirmed the extension of the buffer period for all remaining league-stage matches.

“Similar to the playoffs stage, an additional one hour will be allocated to the playing conditions for the remaining matches of the league stage, starting Tuesday, 20 May,” the BCCI said in its release.

Previously, IPL games allowed for a 60-minute window after the scheduled start before overs began to be deducted due to delays. Under the updated regulation, this window has now been doubled to 120 minutes, offering teams and fans a greater chance to witness a full 20-over contest, even if rain causes initial delays.

This effectively means that matches can now start as late as 9:30 PM IST and still be played in their entirety. Furthermore, the latest possible start for a five-over-a-side match has now been extended to 11:56 PM IST, an hour later than the previous cut-off time.

While this rule was already applicable for playoff fixtures, it has now been extended to the league stage from the Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals clash in Delhi onwards.

Rain threat looms over MI vs DC

Meanwhile, concerns are mounting over the fate of the crucial encounter between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals, scheduled for Wednesday at the Wankhede Stadium. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Mumbai, indicating a strong possibility of rainfall that could severely impact the high-stakes match.

The outcome of this clash is pivotal to Delhi Capitals` playoff aspirations. A win against MI, followed by victory in their final group match, would secure their progression to the playoffs. However, a defeat would send Mumbai Indians through. In the case of a washout, Delhi’s chances would be significantly dented.

DC currently have 13 points from 12 matches, while MI sit at 14 from as many games. Should Wednesday’s match be abandoned and MI triumph in their final game against Punjab Kings, they would seal a playoff berth.

This article first appeared on Mid Day