First IPL qualifier postponed due to rain

KOLKATA: The Kolkata Knight Riders v Kings XI Punjab IPL qualifier at Eden Gardens has been postponed to Wednesday due to torrential rain in Kolkata. The match will be played at 4 pm, while the eliminator in Mumbai, between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, will be played at 8 pm as scheduled.

If the weather or ground conditions do not permit a full game in Kolkata on Wednesday as well, overs will be reduced till it is a five-over-a-side affair. If even that is not possible, as per the playing conditions, the winner will be decided via a Super Over. The latest the Super Over can begin is 9.10 pm.

If that, too, is ruled out, then the side which finished the league stage with more wins - that is Kings XI - will go through to the final. Thundershowers "in spots" are forecast for Kolkata for Wednesday.

The ground had been fully under covers and the outfield was under ankle-deep water in places due to torrential rain lashing the city, PTI reported. At 5.15 pm, umpires Nigel Llong and S Ravi inspected the ground with curator Prabir Mukherjee and decided that it was impossible for it to be made match-fit in time for even a five-overs-a-side game today, prompting the early postponement.