What Happens If Punjab Kings vs RCB Gets Washed Out?

New Chandigarh, Punjab:

The IPL 2025 playoffs are heating up, and all eyes are on the highly anticipated Qualifier 1 between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), scheduled to take place at the New PCA Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. However, with rain threats looming large, many fans are wondering: what happens if the match is washed out?

Here’s a complete breakdown of the rules and scenarios.

Rain Interruptions: What the Rules Say

In IPL 2025, the BCCI has implemented clear rain-contingency protocols for the playoffs. These rules ensure that the integrity of the knockout stage is preserved, even under unpredictable weather conditions.

Reserve Day Available
If rain prevents play on the original match day, the game will be moved to the designated reserve day. This provision applies to all playoff matches including Qualifier 1, Qualifier 2, the Eliminator, and the Final.

The reserve day gives the organizers a second chance to complete the match, even if not a single ball is bowled on the scheduled date.

Two Hours of Extra Time
To increase the chances of getting a result on the original day, an additional 120 minutes (2 hours) of extra time is allocated. This buffer allows for possible delays and interruptions without immediately triggering a move to the reserve day.

Minimum Overs Required
In case of rain interruptions during play, at least five overs per side must be completed to constitute a valid match. If this minimum threshold is met, the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method will be used to determine the result based on revised targets.

If the five-over mark is not reached even after the use of extra time and the reserve day the game will be officially declared a no result.

League Table Advantage
If the match is washed out entirely on both the original day and the reserve day, the team that finished higher on the points table during the league stage will automatically progress to the IPL 2025 final.

This rule provides a reward for consistency during the group stage, adding extra weight to regular-season performances.

Current Scenario: Who Has the Advantage?

RCB finished second on the league table, just above Punjab Kings, who secured third place. Therefore, if the Qualifier 1 is completely washed out across both days, RCB will advance to the final, while PBKS will move to Qualifier 2 for one more chance at making the final.

What About the Fans?

Fans with tickets for the rain-affected matches are generally eligible for full or partial refunds depending on how much play was possible, in accordance with the IPL’s ticketing policies.

While no one wants rain to disrupt such a crucial fixture, the IPL has put in place a fair and robust system to manage weather-affected games. For now, fans of both PBKS and RCB will be keeping their fingers crossed for clear skies and a thrilling contest.