The toss for the IPL 2026 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders will now take place at 8:30 pm, followed by play starting at 8:45 pm at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur on Wednesday.
Despite heavy rain earlier, officials confirmed that no overs will be lost as the cut-off time had not been reached. The match faced delays due to persistent showers and a wet outfield, with the ground being covered after a 30-minute spell of rain at 4:30 pm.
A brief drizzle returned at 6:15 pm, prompting the ground to be covered again while super soppers worked on the surface. Rain intensified at 6:35 pm with thunder and lightning, causing further delays. Conditions improved just before the toss time, allowing umpires to inspect the ground.
The delay continued due to lightning strikes, leading to revised timings being announced later. The Raipur pitch’s challenging conditions are expected to favor bowlers, with moisture from the rain playing a significant role.
RCB, led by Rajat Patidar, are riding high after a thrilling win over Mumbai Indians. A victory in this match could propel RCB to the top of the points table, enhancing their chances of a top-two finish.
On the other hand, KKR, captained by Ajinkya Rahane, are on a winning streak and need a victory to stay in the playoff race after a slow start to the competition.
