Qualifer 1 under threat as Eden Gardens suffers massive damage ahead of the playoffs

In a massive blow for the Indian T20 League 2022, the next week’s playoffs games such as Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator are under threat. Teams such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, Lucknow, and Bangalore are already in the city but they haven’t been able to practice due to the bad weather. In fact, the preparations at the stadium are also in jeopardy as the ground has been under the covers.

In a video going viral on social media, the entire ground cover hasn’t been able to keep itself intact due to thunderstorms. The groundsmen are facing massive challenges to stop the ground from getting wet. However, nature hasn’t helped them at all. Meanwhile, these sandstorms have led to massive damage to the press box. The glasses of the box have been shattered into small pieces.

Watch the video here

This has come as a huge to the BCCI and the governing council of the Indian T20 League with the playoffs to start on May 24. The first game of the playoffs will be the Qualifier 1 game between Rajasthan and Gujarat. The next game at this venue will be the Eliminator between Bangalore and Lucknow on May 25.

If the weather situation remains the same, it will be problematic for teams as shifting to a different venue is impossible at this stage. According to the rules, if these games get washed out, the winners will be decided on the basis of the teams finishing higher than the opposition in the points table.

“In the event that it is not possible to start the Super Over….the team that finished highest in the league table after the 56 matches of the regular season shall be declared the winner of the relevant play-off match or final”, states the Indian T20 League guidelines.

In simple words, if the Qualifier 1 gets washed out, Gujarat will advance to the final on the virtue of being first in the table. On the other hand, Rajasthan will have to win the Qualifier 2 in Ahmedabad on May 27 to reach the final. On the other hand, if the Eliminator gets washed out, Bangalore will be eliminated from the tournament as they finished fourth on the points table.