IPL 2024 Playoffs: What happens if matches get abandoned? Is there a reserve day?

Aftter an uninterrupted Indian Premier League (IPL) season for 62 matches, unseasonal rain halted all well-laid plans. Match 63, between Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders was washed out in Ahmedabad without a ball bowled. Two days later, in Match 66, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans had to sit and wait for the rain to subside. But after a lengthy delay, the game was called off. And on Sunday, in Match 70, the final fixture of the league stage, Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders teams remained in the dugout with contest in Guwahati getting abandoned.

So, three of the last eight IPL matches have been abandoned without a ball bowled.

As things move to the IPL playoffs, the stakes are higher and any interruptions could decide the fate of the teams involved.

In Qualifier 1, KKR take on SRH on Tuesday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Then, on Wednesday, RR and Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be head-to-head in the Eliminator at the same venue.

Qualifier 2, featuring the defeated team between KKR and SRH vs winner of RR and RCB, will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The same venue will be used for the IPL final on 26 May.

What happens if IPL playoff matches get washed out?

As per Rule 13.7.3 in the IPL 2024 Match Playing Conditions, an extra 120 minutes or two hours are available to finish a match in case play is suspended or delayed. This is an hour more than the time allowed for regular season matches.

Here is what the rule goes on to explain, “In the event of a delayed start or interruption, the provision of sixty minutes (or one hundred and twenty minutes for play-off matches) extra time is to be used first, followed by the time allocated for ‘time outs’ and then the reduction in the innings change interval (if applicable).”

“For the play-off matches, in addition to the extra time referred to above, there may be reserve days (on which an incomplete play-off match shall be completed).”

This means the first attempt will be to finish the match on the scheduled date itself. The matches can be stretched to 120 minutes more than the allowed limit if need be. However, if there is no option, the match moves to the next day - a reserve day.

Do IPL playoff matches have a reserve day?

Unlike the previous editions where there was a reserve day only for the final, there is a reserve day for all four playoff matches from this season.

On the reserve day, the match is rescheduled and played from the start, giving both teams another chance. This ensures that adverse weather conditions do not unfairly affect the outcome of crucial games.

What if the IPL playoff match is washed out on the reserve day also?

If Qualifier 1, Qualifier 2 and/or Eliminator are unable to be finished on the reserve day as well, then the winner is decided based on where they finished on the points table.

As per Rule 16.11 pertaining to playoff matches, the Playing Conditions state: “If any of the Final, the Eliminator, Qualifier 1 or Qualifier 2 matches are tied, or there is no result, the following shall apply:

16.11.1 the relevant teams shall compete in a Super Over and if necessary further Super Overs to determine which team is the winner of the match in question; and

16.11.2 if conditions do not permit a Super Over, or subsequent Super Overs within the time available to determine the winner as described in Appendix F then the team which, at the end of the relevant regular Season, finished in the higher position in the League table (in accordance with clause 16.10 above) will be 33 deemed the winner of the relevant play-off match.”