KKR Revolt Against BCCI Over Change In IPL Rules

The BCCI and IPL's recent decision to add 120 minutes to the match wait time in order to make up for rain delays has angered the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Venky Mysore, the CEO of KKR, blasted the rule change, saying it ought to have been in place from the time the IPL started up again on May 17.

The tension between India and Pakistan caused a one-week suspension of the T20 tournament.

Rain interrupted Kolkata vs Bengaluru match

On Saturday, May 17, it resumed with a game between the Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. But KKR's hopes of qualifying were dashed when the game was called off prior to the toss.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) changed the final phase's playing conditions to accommodate unfavorable weather. To lessen the effect of rain delays, the IPL governing council increased the allotted time for the final nine league games by 120 minutes.

Expected More Consistency - KKR's Venky Mysore in his letter to the BCCI

However, the mid-season regulation change did not impress Venky Mysore. Mysore questioned the decision's timing and impartiality in a letter to BCCI COO Hemang Amin, noting that greater consistency is needed.

"While these mid-season changes to the rules may be necessary under the circumstances, one would have expected more consistency in the way such changes are being applied," Mysore wrote in the letter to BCCI as per Cricbuzz.

Venky Mysore claimed that if the updated rain rule had been implemented sooner, it would have had an impact on KKR's game versus RCB. In the rain-affected match, he said, it might have given time for at least a five-over-per-side match.

"When the IPL re-started (on May 17), it was clear that the first game on May 17 KKR vs RCB was at high risk of being interrupted due to rain in B'lore. The forecast was there for all to see. Not only was the game washed out, but the additional 120 minutes now being applied may have provided a chance of at least a 5 over a side game (sic),” he added.

At 10:30 PM IST, only 26 minutes before the usual deadline for completion, the Bengaluru vs. Kolkata match was formally called off.

Such ad hoc decisions and inconsistencies are not appropriate for such a big tournament: KKR

Any of the remaining IPL 2025 matches might start at 9:30 PM under the new regulations without losing overs due to bad weather. Previously, if play hadn't started by 8:30 PM, teams would begin losing overs.

With 12 points from 13 games, the Kolkata Knight Riders are presently ranked sixth in the standings. Notably, rain caused two of their fixtures to wash out. They can score as many as 14 points in the final game. The CEO referred to the amended rain rule's delayed implementation as incongruous.

"The washout ended KKR's chances of making the playoffs. Such ad hoc decisions and inconsistencies of applying them are not appropriate for a tournament of this standing. I am sure you also understand why we feel aggrieved," Mysore said.

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