RCB vs KKR: Rain Delays Toss in Crucial IPL 2026 Clash in Raipur; Playing XI and Match Updates Raipur: The 57th match of the IPL 2026 league campaign saw Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) face off in a high-stakes encounter. The match was delayed due to unexpected rain, which postponed the toss and disrupted the initial schedule. The rain began abruptly during the scheduled toss time at the international stadium, forcing the ground staff to cover the pitch with tarps. Fans expressed disappointment as the delay affected the match's start time. After the rain subsided, officials, including umpires Nitin Menon and Rohan Pande, conducted a pitch inspection at 8:15 PM. The ground was deemed safe for play, and the toss was rescheduled for 8:30 PM. The match finally commenced at 8:45 PM as announced. RCB captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and opted to bowl first, citing the pitch conditions as favorable for a strong batting performance. He noted that the pitch retained similar characteristics to the previous match, making bowling a strategic advantage. Pant also highlighted the confidence boost from their last-minute victory, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus on the current match. RCB made a tactical change in their playing XI, replacing Romario Shepherd with Venkatesh Iyer in the batting lineup. On the KKR side, captain Arijit Roy confirmed that the team had planned to bowl first if they had won the toss. He reiterated their commitment to concentrating on each match individually, rather than looking ahead. The team also made an adjustment, replacing fast bowler Varun Chakravarthy, who suffered a minor injury, with left-arm pace bowler Sourabh Tiwary, who made his IPL debut.#ipl_2026 #kkr #rcb #raipur #nitin_menon
IPL 2026 Captain's Meet: Key Details and Agenda The captains of all Indian Premier League (IPL) teams are set to convene with officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on March 25 to address critical issues related to the upcoming season. The meeting, scheduled from 4:30 pm to 6 pm at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, will focus on clarifications regarding the two-bouncer rule, bat checks, ball replacement protocols, the use of saliva, and the retired-out provision. Javagal Srinath, head of the BCCI’s match referees panel, and Nitin Menon, head of the umpires’ panel, will lead discussions with the captains. The agenda includes detailed reviews of updated playing conditions for IPL 2026, which outline specific rule changes. These include modifications to Rule 4.4 (ball replacement in the second innings), Rule 5.8.3 (bat checks), and several other provisions related to fielding and umpire reviews. Notably, the ball replacement rules have been expanded, addressing gaps from previous seasons. According to the latest playing conditions, umpires will replace the ball if it is lost, damaged, or deemed unfit for use due to wear. The replacement ball will have a similar level of wear, and the umpires will inform both the batter and the fielding captain. In evening matches, the team bowling second may request one ball change after the completion of the 10th over, with the request made only by the bowling captain at the end of an over. This rule applies once per innings, regardless of dew conditions. However, if the ball is replaced before the 10th over due to wetness, damage, or other issues, the fielding captain retains the right to request a change after the 10th over, which the umpires must approve.#ipl_2026 #nitin_menon #javagal_srinath #board_of_control_for_crickey_in_india #bcci_headquarters
IPL Captains' Meeting: Agenda Includes Rule Clarifications and Ball Replacement Guidelines The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has scheduled a meeting with IPL captains to address key rule changes and operational guidelines for the upcoming season. The session, set for 4:30 pm to 6 pm on March 25, will be led by Javagal Srinath and Nitin Menon, heads of the BCCI’s match referees and umpires’ panels, respectively. The meeting aims to clarify several contentious rules and ensure consistency in their implementation across matches. Central to the discussion will be the two-bouncer rule, bat checks, ball replacement protocols, and the use of saliva on the ball. Additionally, the retired-out provision and code of conduct rules will be reviewed. The BCCI has also provided detailed updates on playing conditions, particularly focusing on ball replacement procedures. Under the revised rules, a team bowling in the second innings can request a ball change only once after the completion of the 10th over. This request must be made after an over ends, not during play. The umpires will replace the ball with one showing similar wear and tear. If the ball is replaced before the 10th over, the fielding captain can still request a change after the 10th over, which the umpires must comply with. Scenario 1 outlines that if umpires change the ball before the 10th over due to wetness, damage, or loss, the fielding captain can request a change after the 10th over, requiring a mandatory replacement. Scenario 2 states that if a captain requests a ball change after the 11th over for wet conditions, the umpires will replace it, but subsequent requests will depend on their discretion.#bcci #ipl #javagal_srinath #nitin_menon #hemang_aming
