New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) final home match of the IPL 2025 season against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), originally scheduled for May 23 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, has been shifted to the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow due to adverse weather conditions. The decision was made following a meeting between the BCCI and IPL officials on Tuesday, after the Indian Meteorological Department issued a yellow alert forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall in Bengaluru through Thursday.
This change means RCB will now play both their remaining league fixtures in Lucknow, facing SRH on May 23 and then hosting Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 27 at the same venue. RCB’s previous home game against Kolkata Knight Riders was abandoned without a ball bowled due to persistent rain, and continued severe weather disruptions, including thunderstorms and waterlogging, have made it impractical to hold another match in Bengaluru.
In addition to the venue changes for RCB’s matches, the BCCI has confirmed the final venues for the IPL 2025 playoffs. Mullanpur’s New Chandigarh Stadium will host Qualifier 1 on May 29 and the Eliminator on May 30, while Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium will stage Qualifier 2 on June 1 and the grand final on June 3. These playoff matches were originally slated to be held in Hyderabad and Kolkata but were relocated due to similar weather concerns.
IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal confirmed the changes, stating, “IPL Match No. 65 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 23 has been shifted to Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium following adverse weather reports. The decision was taken after the BCCI and IPL officials’ meeting on Tuesday. Also, the playoffs matches will be played at Narendra Modi Stadium (Final, June 3 and Qualifier 2, June 1), Ahmedabad, and Mullanpur Stadium (Qualifier 1, May 29 and Eliminator, May 30), New Chandigarh, due to the same reason.”
The IPL also announced that starting May 20, an additional hour will be added to the playing conditions for the remaining league matches to accommodate the ongoing weather challenges.
This schedule reshuffle follows a week-long suspension of the tournament earlier in May, caused by escalating India-Pakistan tensions, which paused the league from May 9 to May 17 and pushed the final back from May 25 to June 3.
Meanwhile, the playoff race intensifies with Punjab Kings, RCB, and Gujarat Titans having already secured their spots. Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians remain in close contention for the fourth and final knockout berth.
With IANS inputs