Suspense crime, Digital Desk : The Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs are known for their high-stakes drama and nail-biting finishes. But what happens when the unpredictable Indian weather decides to play spoilsport, especially during a crucial knockout game like an Eliminator? Fans often wonder how a winner is determined if rain washes out the entire contest. Here’s a breakdown of the IPL’s contingency plans for such scenarios.
The Priority: Getting a Game In
Match officials will always make every effort to complete a match, even if it’s a shortened one.
- Minimum Overs: The first step is to try and play at least a 5-overs-per-side game. There’s a specific cut-off time by which this shortened match must begin.
- Super Over: If a 5-over (or more) match is played but ends in a tie, a Super Over will be used to decide the winner.
What if No Play is Possible at All?
This is where things get particularly interesting for Eliminator matches and Qualifiers (unlike the Final, which usually has a reserve day).
- No Reserve Day for Eliminators/Qualifiers: If persistent rain prevents even a 5-overs-per-side match from starting by the cut-off time, or if a Super Over cannot be completed after a tie in a shortened game, there is no reserve day scheduled for these knockout fixtures.
- League Stage Performance is Key: In this unfortunate event of a complete washout with no result possible, the team that finished higher in the points table during the league stage of the tournament will be declared the winner and advance to the next round.
So, for instance, if Team A finished third in the league standings and Team B finished fourth, and their Eliminator match is completely washed out without a single ball bowled (or a 5-over game being possible), Team A would automatically progress.
This rule underscores the importance of every single match during the long league phase, as a higher standing can become a decisive advantage, even without a ball being bowled in a playoff game due to adverse weather.
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