First IPL qualifier on amid improved weather

The Kolkata Knight Riders v Kings XI Punjab IPL qualifier at Eden Gardens, which had been postponed to Wednesday due to torrential rain, appears set to go ahead this afternoon with the weather improving in Kolkata*. "Covers off. Sun out. Eden ready. Game on am told," tweeted Sundar Raman, the IPL chief operating officer.

The match is scheduled to begin at 4 pm, while the eliminator in Mumbai, between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, will be played at 8 pm as scheduled.

If the weather or ground conditions do not permit a full game in Kolkata on Wednesday as well, overs will be reduced till it is a five-over-a-side affair. If even that is not possible, as per the playing conditions, the winner will be decided via a Super Over. The latest the Super Over can begin is 9.10 pm.

If that, too, is ruled out, then the side which finished the league stage with more wins - that is, Kings XI - will go through to the final. Thundershowers "in spots" are forecast for Kolkata for Wednesday.

The ground had been fully under covers and the outfield was under ankle-deep water in places due to torrential rain lashing the city, PTI reported. At 5.15 pm, umpires Nigel Llong and S Ravi inspected the ground with curator Prabir Mukherjee and decided that it was impossible for it to be made match-fit in time for even a five-overs-a-side game today, prompting the early postponement.

"Ticket-holders who purchased tickets for the original match day will be able to enter the stadium on Wednesday on presentation of their original ticket (with the bar code intact) at the turnstiles. Gates will open at 2.00 pm," PTI quoted the IPL's media advisory as saying. "Refunds will only be made to ticket purchasers if the match is cancelled without a ball being bowled."