A match abandoned in Ahmedabad ensures KKR seals the top-two spot
On Monday, a combination of lightning and rain forced the first abandoned game of IPL 2024 in Ahmedabad. This abandoned match confirmed two things: the Kolkata Knight Riders' top-two finish in the league stage and the Gujarat Titans' elimination from playoff contention.
Only a win in the match could've kept eighth-placed GT in the race, but rain did not even allow for a toss. Even some floodlights were also affected by the storm; banners in the stadium that got torn earlier ended up wrapping the floodlights in such a way that they needed to be manually removed.
GT, with the season's lowest net run rate of -1.063, were only mathematically alive, as even two big wins in their last two games could've still left them short. KKR were almost assured of a top-two finish courtesy of their dominating net run rate of 1.428 after 12 games, but a 19th point in their tally sealed that.
This is the first time that GT has not qualified for the IPL playoffs since they joined the competition before the 2022 season. They have a consolation game against Sunrisers Hyderabad next on May 16.
For KKR, their next aim is to finish the league stage at No. 1. If they beat the Rajasthan Royals in their last league game on Sunday.