How can KKR qualify for IPL 2025 playoffs after their game vs PBKS was rained off?

Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) took on Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Eden Gardens on Saturday night. Shreyas Iyer decided to bat first after winning the toss and saw his side score 201 runs on the board for the loss of four wickets. Prabhsimran Singh led the batting charts with his knock of 89, while Priyansh Arya scored a 35-ball 69 runs. 

Sunil Narine and Rahmanullah Gurbaz came out to bat and scored seven runs from the opening over off Marco Jansen. Just as Arshdeep Singh was about to bowl his first over of the game, strong winds forced players off the field. This was soon followed by a downpour as the game was halted with the entire ground being covered. The match was eventually called off and both sides got one point each. 

When the game began, KKR were placed seventh in the points table, while PBKS were fifth. It was a key game for KKR, considering they had got just six points from their previous eight encounters in the season with a run rate of +0.212. This result won’t be ideal for KKR, as they would have played nine games with a total of seven points. 

Kolkata Knight Riders’ Road to playoffs gets more harder 

With the game getting abandoned, PBKS are now in fourth place with 11 points from nine games. Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants have moved down to fifth and sixth places in the table. KKR are currently in seventh place with seven points and have five games left to play. 

Speaking about the positives, if KKR win all their five matches, they will end up with 17 points from 14 games. This should more or less guarantee them a spot in the top four and ensure their passage into the playoffs. But the biggest hurdle for the defending champions is their run of games. 

After their game against PBKS, Ajinkya Rahane and his side take on Delhi Capitals away from home. Eden Gardens will then play host to Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings before KKR travel away to Hyderabad and Bengaluru to end their season. Out of the five matches left, KKR will be playing teams that are either in playoff spots or are aspiring to make their way up the table. 

Here is the part that many KKR fans will be wary about: one more loss or abandoned game could spell doom for their side. This would mean that KKR will have not only to win all their games but also hope that Punjab, Mumbai, and Lucknow lose at least three games. 

In case such a scenario plays out, KKR will have a maximum of 13 points and have to hope that neither MI, LSG, nor PBKS get more than 12 points. In the scenario where KKR happen to win all their games, still their qualification isn’t secured. Kolkata first has to hope that Punjab loses three out of their final games of the season and finishes on 15 points. Rahane and his men will also have to hope that MI and LSG don’t win more than three games and end their season on 16 points. Such a situation will be favourable for KKR, who now face a tricky situation heading into the final games of the season.