New Delhi: Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals are all set to clash against each other on May 24, Tuesday, in Qualifier 1 for a place in the final of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. IPL 15 Qualifier 1 will be played between Gujarat and Rajasthan at the Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata, but rain will likely play spoilsport during the match. Let’s have a look at the scenarios if no play is possible due to rain
Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals are ranked first and second, respectively, in the IPL 2022 points table. Both these teams will have two chances to reach the finals of IPL 2022. However, Gujarat can make it to the IPL 2022 final without playing Qualifier 1 if the match gets abandoned due to rain. The IPL management has introduced some rules so that the top two teams get the benefit they rightly deserve if rain cancels play.
If Qualifier 1 takes place as per schedule without any hindrance, the winning team will advance to the final, while the losing team will have to beat the winning team of the Eliminator (Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore) to reach the final.
However, weather could play a big role in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2022. According to AccuWeather, thunderstorms are likely to hit the Qualifier 1 venue i.e. Kolkata once or twice on Tuesday evening, resulting in delayed rains.
According to the AccuWeather website, as the day progresses, the weather is expected to clear for a while. However, there is a possibility of a cloudy sky at around 8 PM (IST). If rain spoils the game and no play is possible in regulation time, a Super Over will decide the fate of both teams playing Qualifier 1 at Kolkata.
News agency PTI quoted an IPL briefing note on Monday as saying that even if a Super Over is not possible, the league standings will be given priority and the winner will be decided.
In that case, Gujarat Titans are the current table-toppers in IPL 2022 Points Table after end of league stage and therefore if match gets abandoned due to poor weather, Gujarat will enter the final, while Rajasthan Royals will have to face the winning team of the Eliminator match (RCB vs LSG).