Rain washes out Rajasthan vs Kolkata match in Barshapara; Rajasthan Royals to face RCB in Eliminator

May 20: Cricket enthusiasts were abuzz with excitement for the IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders at Barshapara Stadium.

Fans from various districts of the state gathered at the metropolitan venue on Sunday night. However, the relentless rain in Barshapara washed away all the anticipation.

Despite the toss taking place, not a single ball was bowled. The match between Rajasthan and Kolkata was abandoned due to rain, resulting in both teams receiving one point each.

It was already confirmed that Kolkata would remain at the top of the league table. However, the match held significant importance for Rajasthan.

A victory against Kolkata would have secured them the second position. With the match abandoned, Rajasthan now finishes third in the league table, advancing to the playoffs in the third spot.

This means they will play in the Eliminator against Royal Challengers Bangalore. The match is essentially a knockout, or a quarter-final. A loss would mean elimination, while a win would lead them to face the loser of Qualifier One, either Kolkata or Hyderabad.

On Sunday, the ground staff at Barshapara fought hard to make the pitch playable. The excellent drainage system at Barshapara meant that the game could have started within half an hour of the rain stopping. However, the rain showed no signs of letting up, falling intermittently throughout the night.

After a long wait, the match could not commence as it exceeded the cut-off time. The umpires were forced to declare the match abandoned, granting one point each to Rajasthan and Kolkata.

At one point, Rajasthan was racing ahead in the league table, seemingly out of reach for the other teams led by Sanju Samson. It appeared that Rajasthan would easily finish at the top of the points table. However, they managed to collect only one point from their last six matches, losing five consecutive games.

This downturn pushed them to the Eliminator. Now, Rajasthan must face RCB on May 22. A loss would shatter the IPL title dreams of Riyan Parag and his team.