BCCI Accused of ‘Inconsistency’ by Kolkata Knight Riders over IPL Game Suspension 

KKR have reportedly complained to the BCCI, expressing displeasure and labeling the mid-season playing condition rule changes as 'inconsistent.'

BCCI Accused of ‘Inconsistency’ by Kolkata Knight Riders over IPL Game Suspension 

KKR have written to the BCCI, expressing frustration with the 2025 IPL playing condition changes. (via News Arena)

Defending IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders have reportedly written to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), complaining about the sudden mid-season changes in playing conditions. The Kolkata-based franchise expressed its displeasure, labeling the BCCI’s decision as ‘inconsistent’. 

The ongoing season has already been marred by a week-long interruption, as a result of India’s border stand-off with Pakistan. Franchises, upon the league’s resumption on May 17, faced the immediate issue of overseas player unavailability, due to national team commitments. To address this, the BCCI has permitted franchises to sign temporary replacements for the latter part of the season.

In another major decision, the BCCI, on Tuesday, altered the rules for playing conditions for the remainder of the season. Under the new rule, an extra 120 minutes of playtime would be added to the matches, in case it gets interrupted by rain.

The reasoning for this decision, as highlighted by the BCCI, comes from the fact that the tournament schedule has been delayed by a week, resulting in an increased probability that the remaining matches could be disrupted by the onset of monsoon in India.

The new rule implies that a complete 20-over match can be played even if it gets interrupted by rain, with a match starting as late as 9.30 pm. Previously, this extension was reserved only for playoff matches. Regular league stage matches only had an hour-long extra playtime, with overs being deducted after 8.30 pm. Now, with the revised cut-off times, even a 5-over match can commence as late as midnight.

However, the BCCI’s new rule has not gone down well with many franchises, including KKR, due to concerns that it might set a wrong precedent. KKR, who are already out of the play-offs contention this season, were left aggrieved by the ‘ad-hoc’ mid-season alterations. KKR CEO Venky Mysore, reportedly sent an email to IPL COO Hemang Amin, urging the BCCI to maintain ‘consistency’ in its decision-making:

While these mid-season changes to the rules may be necessary under the circumstances, one would have expected more consistency in the way such changes are being applied.

Mysore noted that KRR’s agony stems from the fact that its May 17 encounter against RCB, the first match after the IPL’s resumption, was washed out due to rain. He stated that this match was played under the old playing rules, and even argued that if the new rule allowing an extra 120 minutes had been in effect, a five-over match could have been played, potentially altering KKR’s qualification chances. He added:

Not only was the game [KKR vs. RCB] washed out but the additional 120 mins, now being applied may have provided a chance of at least a 5-over a side game.

The abandoned match in Bengaluru unfortunately led to KKR’s elimination from the 2025 season. Notably, it was KKR’s second group stage match to be washed out this season, with their game against Punjab Kings on April 26th at Eden Gardens also being abandoned due to rain.

BCCI announces new IPL play-off venues, Ahmedabad to host final, Mullanpur to host qualifier 1 and eliminator

The BCCI, ending speculation, announced the new hosts for the 2025 IPL play-offs. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will now be hosting the IPL final on June 3, as well Qualifier 2, while Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator is set to be played at the New PCA Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh.

BCCI IPL 2025 final venue change
BCCI announced its decision to shift the IPL 2025 final from Kolkata to Ahmedabad. (via Populous)

Kolkata’s Eden Gardens and Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi Stadium were initially slated to host the playoffs this season. The reason for the BCCI’s choice of Ahmedabad and Mullanpur as the new hosts is the prevailing weather conditions, due to the advent of monsoon in India. These two cities are anticipated to experience the lowest likelihood of rain over the next fortnight.

Additionally, the BCCI also announced its decision to relocate the match between RCB and SRH, due to unfavorable weather conditions. The game, which was set to be played at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, has been shifted to the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.