IPL 8 KKR vs RR: Bad news, match called-off, both teams get 1 point each

Kolkata: It was a waiting game for a packed Eden Gardens stadium, the Kolkata Knight Riders' game against the Rajasthan Royals was called-off due to incessant rains without even a ball bowled. Both the teams get one point each, which means the Rajasthan Royals go back on top of the table. 

Here's how the action unfolded

It was announced at the ground that fans might not be able to witness a match as there are still wet patches.

Umpires are now having a serious discussion with both the coaches and captains from both the sides. We're hoping for an update soon and something conclusive.

What was interesting to see though was both the camps shook hands and walked off the field, doesn't look like Eden Gardens will witness a game today. Still waiting for an official confirmation.

(Photo: BCCI)

After having a word with both the team camps, the tense wait continues as the next inspection is at 6.50 pm IST.

A packed Eden Gardens will have to wait longer if play has to start or not as the next inspection will be at 6.45 pm IST. The ground still looks damp though but the final cover is coming off.

The umpires have just inpected the ground and there are dim hopes of a match at Eden Gardens.

The ground's still very wet, so the umpires have decided the next inspection will be at 6.30 pm IST. It will take 40 minutes to take the covers off with the cut-off time for a five-over match at 7.30 pm IST.

(Photo: BCCI)

The umpires are on the ground, the covers at long-on/fine third man are being taken off, but ground in that area still looks quite wet. There are still deep puddles on the covers at the deep cover/long leg area. A lot of work to be done.

There will be an inspection at 5.35 pm IST if the rain doesn't show up again. The centre and square wicket covers are coming off and now the match has started losing overs. The sky looking dangerous.

(Photo: BCCI)

It has got a bit brighter at Eden Gardens and some of the covers have been removed but there still remains a lot of water that needs to be drained out from the pitch. 7.20 pm IST is the cut-off time. 

Just before the covers were going to be taken off and rain has began to pour incessantly at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. According to the IPL website, a full 20-over match could still take place as there's time till 5.15 pm IST after which the match will start losing overs. Fingers crossed!

Meanwhile, the Cricket Association of Bengal has honoured deceased cricketer Ankit Keshri as the cricketing fraternity pay their tributes to the former U-19 Bengal captain.

The rain has stopped in Kolkata but there is a lot of standing water at Eden Gardens, super soppers toiling hard, covers still on.

The skies have opened up and the rain is pelting down at Eden Gardens as players fans await a great contest. Play is likely to be delayed.

(Photo: BCCI)

Many spectators were seen drenched and were stranded outside the stadium, while a few lucky ones could get inside as the gates opened at 2pm. There's no abatement in rain intensity even as there's still some hope for the match to begin as a minimum of five-overs-a-side is allowed as per the rules.

The onus would now lie with the Eden Gardens groundsmen and the much criticized drainage system to clear up the water for the match to happen. There'll be an official inspection after the rain subsides.

(Photo: BCCI)

The scene was pretty similar yesterday too as rains poured in for more than three hours around the same time denying the home team a match-eve practice as they had to content with the indoor facility.

The local Met office has blamed it on a cyclonic circulation over Jharkhand and adjoining South Bengal.

Narine, whose action has yet again come under the scanner will undergo corrective measures at the ICC and BCCI accredited testing facility SRASSC in Chennai and won't be available for the Royals game. However, his absence could prove to be a psychological blow for the Knights, having lost to Sunrisers in their last match via D/L Method.

The Royals will also be keen to return to winning ways after as they have now lost back to back matches after five successive victories.

In case of Narine, he is eligible to bowl in forthcoming matches but it's highly unlikely that the KKR think tank, which has stood firm by the Trinidad and Tobago off-spinner will risk a bowler in Sunday's match. Termed an asset who's been hard to replace by his skipper Gambhir, Narine's recruit had seen them winning the title twice in 2012 and 2014 as he's picked 67 wickets in three IPL seasons during which he played in 52 matches.

Check out: Points table

More than the chemistry in their bowling unit, KKR face the biggest mental hurdle as they hit the home stretch after a 15-day gap owing to the civic polls in the state. KKR in fact have their plan B ready with the likes of Johan Botha, Brad Hogg along with the rookie mystery spinner KC Cariappa, chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav besides the tried and tested duo of Piyush Chawla and Yusuf Pathan.

Beginning with RR, KKR will go on to complete all their remaining five home outings by May 9, as they would look to secure maximum to ensure a berth in the playoffs that begin May 19. Gambhir and Co love chasing but their plan backfired in their last match with D-L method denying them a third straight away victory.

In batting, KKR have been relying heavily on skipper Gautam Gambhir who has three half-centuries, as the likes of Robin Uthappa, the last season's top run-getter, Manish Pandey and Suryakumar Yadav are yet to convert their starts. Pathan senior also has been a regular feature for KKR in the past four years with very little to show for his efforts apart from one odd innings here and there.

RR, on the other hand, will be formidable with the duo of Ajinkya Rahane, the leading run-getter this season, and Steve Smith in fine form. Add skipper Shane Watson's all-round finesse and Deepak Hooda's blazing strike-rate (208.92) and Royals would look menacing.

Since making his IPL debut at 41, Pravin Tambe, now 43, has impressed and has taken six scalps this season. With Chris Morris and James Faulkner, their pace department also look in safe hands as Watson will be looking to turn around their momentum.

Skipper Watson has admitted that fortunes have changed since their unfortunate Super Over loss to Kings XI Punjab after the scores were tied on April 21. "We have to turn the momentum as quickly as possible. T20 is such a format where it changes quickly," Watson said after their nine-wicket thrashing by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the previous match.