RCB vs KKR: After a 10-day pause, the IPL 2025 season was set to roar back to life with a high-octane clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on 17th May, Saturday.

However, persistent rain in the Garden City has dampened spirits and delayed the toss, leaving both teams - and fans - anxiously waiting for play to begin.

With a reworked schedule and last-minute squad changes for several franchises, anticipation had been building ahead of this crucial fixture.

But the weather had other plans.

By 7:00 PM IST, steady rainfall meant the toss had been officially delayed. Although the stadium's drainage system is among the best in the league, the intensity of the rain began to increase again by 7:35 PM, prompting concerns about a potential washout.

So, what's the cut-off time for this match?

According to IPL regulations, overs start getting reduced from 8:45 PM IST if no play is possible by then. The cut-off time for a five-over match is 10:56 PM IST.

That means the game still has a window to go ahead - even if in a shortened format - provided conditions improve.

Encouragingly, as of 8:15 PM IST, the rain had eased off to a light drizzle, keeping hope alive. And despite the weather, the crowd has stayed upbeat. Many fans are donning white jerseys as a tribute to Virat Kohli, who recently announced his retirement from Test cricket. A huge cheer erupted at the Chinnaswamy when Kohli's Test career stats flashed across the big screen.

With the rain showing signs of letting up, all eyes are now on the ground staff and the skies above. Should the rain hold off, Bengaluru could still witness a truncated but thrilling encounter between two of the league's biggest names.With the rain showing signs of letting up, all eyes are now on the ground staff and the skies above. Should the rain hold off, Bengaluru could still witness a truncated but thrilling encounter between two of the league's biggest names.