The final of the Indian Premier League 2025 was ready. Fans were loud, the trophy was shining, and both teams, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings, were set. But there was one big worry. And it was raining.
The match was at Narendra Modi Stadium, and there was a 62% chance of rain. Everyone was thinking the same thing – what if the rain decides the winner? Every fan should know what happens if rain actually stops the final.
Only the final gets a reserve day. That means if rain completely stops play on the main day, the match is moved to the next day. No other IPL match gets this. Not Qualifier 1, not Qualifier 2, not the Eliminator.
But the final is different. The Board of Control for Cricket in India wants a proper winner. So they keep a full reserve day to try again.
The 2025 season showed why planning is important. The final was first planned in Kolkata, but weather reports showed around a 65% chance of rain there. Ahmedabad had only about 3% at that time. So the BCCI shifted the final based on weather data.
The Official BCCI Rain Framework For IPL Finals
When the IPL final is about to start, everyone is thinking about runs, wickets, and pressure. But the Board of Control for Cricket in India is thinking about one more thing – what if rain comes? So they made a clear step by step system.
Step 1: They give extra time, which is 120 minutes. That means 2 extra hours are kept just in case rain delays the game. Umpires try to use every minute to finish the match. If everything goes well, a full 20-over match should start before around 9:30 PM. If rain delays more, overs start getting reduced. There is also a last limit. For even a short match of 5 overs per team, play must begin by around 11:56 PM. If it can’t start by then, the day is basically done.
Step 2: If the match still cannot be completed, it moves to the reserve day. This day is kept only for the final. Now two things can happen. If no ball was played on the first day, the match starts fresh. New toss. Teams can even change their playing XI. But if the match had already started and then stopped because of rain, it wouldn’t restart from zero. It continues from the same point where it was paused.
Step 3: Both teams must play at least 5 overs each. This rule is the same for the main day and the reserve day. If 5 overs per side are completed, then a result can be decided. If rain interrupts, the winner is decided using the DLS method, which adjusts scores based on overs and conditions. If even that looks difficult and time is almost over, officials may try a Super Over. But even for that, play should begin by around 1:20 AM.
Step 4: If rain doesn’t allow even a 5-over match on both days, and even a Super Over is not possible, then the match is abandoned. In that case, the winner is decided from the league stage standings. The team that finished higher on the points table wins the final.
How The 120-Minute Grace Period Works In Practice
When an IPL match is about to start at 7:30 PM, the clock becomes very important. Not just for fans, but for the officials and the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The match is set for 7:30 PM. But if rain comes, they don’t panic. They use the 120-minute grace period.
From 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM, nothing is lost. This is the safe window. During these 2 hours, the start can be delayed, but the match can still be a full 20-over game. So even if rain stops play early, they just wait and try to start anytime before 9:30 PM.
Time keeps moving, and there is one final limit. If they want even a small match of 5 overs per side, the game must start by around 11:56 PM. If it doesn’t start by then, there is no way to get a result that day.
But in 2025, things changed. The season was longer, and rain was expected early because of the monsoon. So the BCCI updated the rule on May 20 and gave 120 minutes extra time to all matches, not just playoffs.
A match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium showed why timing matters. Rain was already expected that day. It kept raining, and not a single ball was played. The match was called off at 10:26 PM.
The cutoff time under the old rule was 10:56 PM. That means there were still 30 minutes left. But since only 60 extra minutes were allowed at that time, officials had no option but to abandon the match. If the 120-minute rule had been applied that day, there might have been enough time to at least play a 5-over match.
Because of that one washout, KKR lost their chance to reach the playoffs. Their CEO, Venky Mysore, was not happy. He questioned why the new rule was not used from the moment the tournament restarted.
When Overs Start Getting Cut
The match is supposed to start at 7:30 PM. But rain delays it. Everyone keeps watching the clock. Up to 9:30 PM, there is no problem. This is the 120-minute window given by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. If the match starts anytime in this period, it can still be a full 20-over game.
But once it crosses 9:30 PM, things change. Now overs start getting cut. The delay starts costing time. Roughly every 7 to 8 minutes, one over is removed from each side. So the longer the delay, the shorter the match becomes.
For even a small 5-over match, the game must start by around 11:56 PM. This includes time for both innings and a short break in between. If they manage to start by then, a 5-over match can still happen and finish by around 12:50 AM.
Now, when overs are reduced, scoring becomes tricky. This is where the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method comes in. It is not just simple math like “runs per over.” It looks at two things – how many overs are left and how many wickets a team still has.
One rule always stays the same. Both teams must play at least 5 overs each to get a proper result. If that minimum is done, a winner can be decided – either normally or using DLS. If even a 5-over match is not possible, then they try a Super Over.
Understanding The Reserve Day Rule For IPL Finals
In the Indian Premier League final, the reserve day is mostly about continuing the same match. The rules depend on what happened on the first day.
If no play happened at all, then yes, the next day is a fresh start. A new toss happens. Teams can even change their playing XI. But if even one ball was played, then nothing resets. The match continues from the exact point where it stopped.
In the 2023 final between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings at Narendra Modi Stadium, rain completely took over the first day. On May 28, there was heavy rain, thunder, and lightning. Even the toss could not happen properly, and the match was abandoned for that day.
So on May 29, the reserve day, the match started fresh. Gujarat Titans batted first and scored 214/4. Then rain came again during the chase. After the break, the target for CSK was changed using the DLS method. They had to chase 171 in 15 overs. The match went to the last ball, and CSK won by 5 wickets.
Now, about timing on the reserve day. It works almost like the main day. If play starts by around 9:40 PM, a full 20-over match is still possible. If delayed, overs are reduced, just like before. For a minimum 5-over match, play must begin by around 11:56 PM. And if they want to try a Super Over, the last window is around 12:50 AM.
What Happens If It Rains On The Reserve Day Too
The final gets one full day, and then a reserve day. Both days have extra time. Officials try everything to get a result. But if rain keeps coming on both days, then things change. If even a 5-over match cannot be played across both days, the match is simply called off. No result from the game itself.
At that point, the Board of Control for Cricket in India uses the last rule. The winner is decided by the league table. The team that finished higher after the league stage is declared champion of the Indian Premier League. So instead of one match deciding the title, the whole season decides it.
The Points Table Decider Rule and Why Fans Consider It Controversial
In the IPL, most rules are simple. But this one feels strange to many fans. It comes into play only in one situation, when rain completely stops the final on both days.
If a full match happens, the winner is decided on the field. If the match is shorter but at least 5 overs per side are played, then the result comes using the DLS method. If even that is not possible but a Super Over can happen, then that decides the winner.
But if rain does not allow anything on both match day and reserve day, then the last rule is used. The team that finished higher in the league table wins the trophy. That means all 14 league matches suddenly become more important than the final itself. This is why people find it hard to accept.
The 2025 final gives a perfect example of why this rule feels odd. Punjab Kings finished first in the league with 20 points. Royal Challengers Bengaluru finished second with 18 points.
But in Qualifier 1, RCB team had already beaten Punjab Kings clearly. Now imagine if rain had washed out both days of the final. Punjab Kings would have been declared champions just because they finished first earlier. RCB would have lost the title, even after beating the same team in the playoffs.
That is where the problem comes. The rule rewards consistency over the full season, which makes sense. But it ignores what happens in the knockout matches, which are supposed to decide the champion. So a team can lose an important playoff match and still win the trophy without playing the final. Because of this, many fans and experts call it a “necessary rule,” but also a confusing one.
| Year | Teams | Venue | Rain Affected? | Winner | Method of Decision |
| 2021 | CSK vs KKR | Dubai | No | CSK | Full match |
| 2022 | GT vs RR | Ahmedabad | No | GT | Full match |
| 2023 | GT vs CSK | Ahmedabad | Yes | CSK | Reserve day + DLS |
| 2024 | KKR vs SRH | Chennai | No | KKR | Full match |
| 2025 | RCB vs PBKS | Ahmedabad | No (rain-free) | RCB | Full match |
The DLS Method Explained In The Context Of IPL Finals
When rain stops an IPL final, the game cannot just continue normally. The target has to change. That’s where the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method comes in.
If a team still has all 10 wickets, they can attack freely. But if they have already lost many wickets, they have to play carefully. So just reducing the target based on overs is not fair. Because it ignores wickets.
DLS uses both things – how many overs are left and how many wickets are still there. Then it sets a new target. But this is not something people calculate by hand. It is done by a computer using data from many matches.
In the 2023 final between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings, this rule decided everything. Gujarat Titans batted first and scored 214 runs in 20 overs. CSK started chasing. But rain came almost immediately. After the delay, the match was shortened. Instead of chasing 215 in 20 overs, CSK had to chase 171 in 15 overs.
If you look at simple math, the target could have been around 162. But DLS made it higher. Why? Because CSK still had all 10 wickets. They had full power to attack in fewer overs.
Here is how targets changed based on overs in that match:
- 20 overs → 215 runs
- 15 overs → 171 runs
- 10 overs → 123 runs
- 5 overs → 66 runs
You can see the pattern. Fewer overs means a much faster scoring rate is needed.
SWOT Analysis of The BCCI Rain Rules For IPL Finals
| Factor | Key Detail | Real IPL Example |
| STRENGTHS | The rules provide a 120-minute grace period on match day, a full reserve day, and progressive fallbacks (reduced overs → Super Over → league table) to ensure a champion is crowned . | After persistent rain washed out the scheduled day, the reserve day was successfully activated. The match was completed with CSK chasing a DLS-adjusted target of 171 in 15 overs, proving the system works to deliver a thrilling result . |
| WEAKNESSES | The rule can crown a champion who lost to their final opponent in the playoffs, based solely on league-stage performance from weeks earlier, ignoring knockout results. | PBKS topped the league table. Had rain washed out both the final and reserve day, they would have been declared champions without beating RCB, despite RCB defeating them in Qualifier 1 . |
| OPPORTUNITIES | The BCCI could follow the ICC’s example by making “joint winners” the final tiebreaker or ensuring a Super Over is attempted even if a 5-over match isn’t possible. | KKR argued that if the 120-minute rule (extended late in the season) had been applied to their washed-out match vs RCB, a result might have been possible, keeping them in playoff contention. It highlights the need for consistent, early application of flexible rules . |
| THREATS | Scheduling the final in late May/early June increases the risk of back-to-day washouts, especially in traditionally rainy cities. Scientific venue selection is critical. | Kolkata, the original host for the final, had a 65% chance of rain, while Ahmedabad had only 3%. The BCCI’s decision to shift the final based on weather science ensured a full, uninterrupted match . |
How IPL Rain Rules Compare To ICC Tournament Finals
When rain hits a final, every tournament has to answer one simple question – what if no result is possible? This is where the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the International Cricket Council think very differently.
Start with ICC tournaments like the World Cup or T20 World Cup. If rain washes out the final, even after the reserve day, ICC does not pick one winner. They simply share the trophy. Both teams are called champions.
In the Indian Premier League, there is always one winner. If rain stops both the main day and the reserve day, they don’t share the trophy. Instead, they go back to the league table. The team that finished higher after the league stage is declared champion.
There are some similarities too. Both have reserve days. Both try to finish the match using shorter games or Super Overs. But the final decision is completely different. This difference is why people argue about it.
A team can lose to their opponent in the playoffs and still win the title without playing the final, just because they finished higher earlier. That is why this rule always brings debate whenever rain is around.
Real Scenarios From The Last Five IPL Finals Involving Rain
Over the last few years, every IPL final had a different story with weather. Some were smooth. Some came close to trouble. One turned into a long fight with rain.
Here’s how each final from 2021 to 2025 played out in the Indian Premier League.
In 2021, the final between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in Dubai had no issues at all. The weather was clear. No rain. The match went on normally, and CSK won their fourth title without any interruption.
In 2022, the final moved to Narendra Modi Stadium. It was Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals. Again, no rain problem. But the heat was very high. Temperatures were above 40°C during the day. Even at night, it stayed very warm. Still, the match was completed fully, and Gujarat Titans won.
Then came 2023. This one changed everything. The final between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings became the first big case where the reserve day was actually used.
On May 28, heavy rain didn’t even allow the toss. Officials waited till late night, but nothing happened. So the match moved to the reserve day. On May 29, it started fresh. Gujarat Titans scored 214 runs. Then rain came again during CSK’s chase.
After the delay, the target was changed using the DLS method. CSK had to chase 171 in 15 overs. The match went to the last ball, and CSK won. It actually finished after midnight, stretching across three days. This final showed how reserve day and DLS work in real life.
In 2024, the final between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai had some tension before the match. There was a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal. Rain had affected practice sessions. Teams even had to train indoors. But on match day, the weather cleared. No rain during the game. KKR won easily and lifted the trophy.
Then came 2025, one of the most worrying build-ups. The final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings again in Ahmedabad had strong rain forecasts. There was even a delay in one of the earlier playoff matches at the same ground.
Rain chances were high, and people were already talking about what would happen if both days got washed out. If that had happened, Punjab Kings would have been champions just based on the league table. But in the end, rain stayed away. The match was played fully, and RCB won their first IPL title.
Final Words
After looking at everything, one thing is clear. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has made a system where they try every possible way to finish the IPL final.
Only when all these options fail, they use the last rule – the points table. That means the team that finished higher in the league stage wins the title of the Indian Premier League. Many people feel it is strange. A team can lose in the playoffs and still win the trophy if rain stops the final. So it becomes a debate between two ideas.
One side says the whole season should matter. The team that was better over many matches deserves it. The other side says the final should decide everything. The winner should be decided on the field in that last match.
There are other options too. Like how the International Cricket Council handles it – by making both teams joint winners if no result is possible. Some also think the IPL could add more time, maybe another reserve day, or extend the Super Over window.
Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
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