Follow UsThe Managing Director of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Venky Mysore, called the changes made to the Indian Premier League (IPL)’s second leg ad-hoc and inconsistent, especially targeting the rain time extension rule.
This rule came into being after KKR’s match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was washed out on May 17, the first day after the league’s resumption on May 17, resulting in Kolkata being rendered unable to qualify for the playoffs and thereby defend their IPL 2024 title.
"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," an email to the IPL Governing Council (GC) by Mysore was quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.
Referring to his team’s match and how the new rule, if introduced earlier, could have saved the game, Mysore said, "When the IPL restarted, it was clear that the first game on May 17 KKR vs RCB, was at high risk of being interrupted due to rain in [Bengaluru]. The forecast was there for all to see. Not only was the game washed out, but the additional 120 minutes now being applied may have provided a chance of at least a 5-over-a-side game.”
"The wash-out ended KKR's chances of making the playoffs. Such ad-hoc decisions and inconsistencies in applying them are not appropriate for a tournament of this standing. I am sure you also understand why we feel aggrieved,” he added.
Later on, Parth Jindal, co-owner of the Delhi Capitals (DC), also wrote to the IPL GC, seeking a shifting of the match between his team and the Mumbai Indians (MI) in Mumbai to a favourable location after the Indian Meteorological Department issued a yellow alert (moderate rainfall) for the city for May 21.