Heavy rain and lightning forced the cancellation of the first Indian Premier League match of 2024 on Monday, with big results for both teams. The washout at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium guaranteed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) a top-two finish in the league stage and knocked Gujarat Titans (GT) out of playoff contention.
Only a win could have kept GT (currently eighth) in the running, but the rain stopped even the coin toss. The storm was so strong it damaged some floodlights. Torn stadium banners got wrapped around the lights, requiring workers to remove them by hand.
GT's path was already tough. With the worst net run rate in the IPL (-1.063), even two wins in their remaining games might not have been enough. KKR, on the other hand, were almost certain of a top-two spot with their excellent net run rate (1.428) after 12 games. The washout gave them an extra point to solidify their lead with 19 points.
This is the first time GT has failed to reach the IPL playoffs since joining the league in 2022. Their season ends with a meaningless match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 16.
KKR's next goal is to finish the league stage at the top, something they've never done before. Winning their last game against Rajasthan Royals on Sunday would guarantee them the top spot. They can also secure the No. 1 position if RR loses at least one of their remaining two matches, which includes the KKR clash.
Even if KKR doesn't finish first, they might not mind. Interestingly, both times they finished second in the IPL points table (2012 and 2014), they went on to win the championship.
