IPL franchises unhappy with BCCI changing playing conditions mid-season; 'aggrieved' KKR shoots email: Report

Kolkata Knight Riders have reportedly sent a stern email to the BCCI, complaining about changes to the IPL 2025 playing conditions midway through the season, which may favour some teams over others. read more

KKR have complained there needs to be consistency with how BCCI changes IPL playing conditions. Image: Reuters

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are reportedly unhappy with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) changing the Indian Premier League (IPL) playing conditions midway during the 2025 season. The Kolkata franchise has also written to the BCCI to express their displeasure.

The BCCI tweaked the playing conditions for the remaining IPL 2025 league games on Tuesday, as per which 120 minutes of extra time will be added to the matches. The two-hour extra time allowance is a norm for playoff matches, but not IPL league games. However, with the tournament now pushed back by over a week due to the India-Pakistan conflict and the onset of monsoon in India, the BCCI has decided to add 120 minutes of extra time to league games to complete a 20-over match.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

KKR asks BCCI to be consistent with rule changes

KKR, who are already out of the IPL 2025, are aggrieved by the alterations to the playing conditions midway through the tournament. One of the reasons for KKR’s unhappiness is that their match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on 17 May at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium was washed out due to rain when old playing conditions were in force.

An extra 120 minutes could have allowed the organisers to complete that match and had KKR won, they would have still been alive in the playoffs race. Interestingly, the 17 May match was the first game after the IPL restarted this season.

KKR CEO Venky Mysore, in his mail to the COO of the IPL, Hemang Amin, said that he expects consistency from BCCI in how they make the changes to playing conditions, reported Cricbuzz.

“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,” Venky Mysore wrote in an email.

“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).”

The washout in Bengaluru led to the .

“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,” Mysore said, adding, “I am sure you also understand why we feel aggrieved.”

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

IPL franchises unhappy with BCCI

As per the Cricbuzz report, besides KKR, other teams are also unhappy with the BCCI changing rules midway during a season and fear it could “set a wrong precedent.”

As per changes, the IPL match can now start as late as 9.30 PM if impacted due to rain. No overs will be deducted till 9.30 PM. Earlier, with only one hour of extra time available, overs would have been reduced if play hadn’t started by 8:30 PM. With the revised cut-off, even a five-over match can now begin as late as midnight.

Click here to read article