Courtesy: BCCI/IPL
Fans couldn’t have asked for a better opening fixture for the IPL 2025 as heavyweights Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are set to face off against each other at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday, March 22, in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 opener. However, the big IPL party could be ruined due to a looming threat of rain disrupting this opening match. While such an incident would be a big distress to fans and players alike, in this article we will take a look at how many overs must be bowled for a result in the KKR vs RCB 2025 IPL match in case of rain.
During an IPL game, for a result to be declared in case of rain or other interruptions, the following rules will be applied. In the T20 format, each team must face a minimum of five overs for a result to be possible in a match. If the match is interrupted by rain, the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method will be used to adjust the target if both teams have faced at least five overs. If the chasing team doesn’t get to face at least five overs in case of falling short of the target, then the match will be declared a no result (unless it’s a knockout game, where there are additional provisions like reserve days or Super Overs). So, in the KKR vs RCB IPL 2025 clash, at least five overs per side must be bowled for a valid result in case of rain.
Spicy history of KKR vs RCB in IPL over the last 17 years
The rivalry between the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is one of the most storied in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history. Since the inaugural match of the IPL in 2008, where KKR secured a commanding 140-run victory, the two teams have faced each other 34 times. KKR leads the head-to-head record with 20 wins, while RCB has 14 victories.
In 2008, the inaugural IPL match saw KKR's Brendon McCullum score an unbeaten 158 off 73 balls, leading KKR to a massive win. While in 2017, RCB was bowled out for just 49 runs at Eden Gardens, the lowest total in IPL history, with KKR's bowlers dominating the match. More recently in 2024, in a high-scoring thriller at Eden Gardens, KKR posted 222/6. RCB's chase was valiant but fell short by just one run, highlighting the intense competition between the two sides.
With new captains Ajinkya Rahane and Rajit Patidar taking the reins for both these teams, it will be interesting to see what drama brews up in the opening fixture of the 2025 IPL; that is if rain doesn’t spoil the party.
