IPL 2022 winners Gujarat Titans become the third team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) season 2024 to be eliminated as their match against Kolkata Knight Riders was abandoned due to persistent rain at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 13. Despite the possibility of a five-over contest until the 10:56 PM cutoff, officials ultimately abandoned the match after many discussions due to the escalating rainfall and waterlogged outfield, marking a first in this IPL season. It almost felt like the officials tried their best to have some cricket, but rain had the final say and the match was washed out. Once, the IPL winning team this year has not just failed to qualify but also crashed out of the tournament, thereby breaking the dreams of all of their fans.
A dust storm late in the afternoon developed into pre-season showers and a relentless drizzle throughout the night meant neither team even stepped out of the Narendra Modi Stadium dressing room until the game was formally called off with rain playing spoilsport in Ahmedabad, GT is out of the playoff race this season. The GT side can only pick up 14 points in the league stage. GT’s awful run rate of -1.063 had already put Shubman’s men on the cusp of an early exit from the IPL 2024 playoff race before the toss against KKR. With match No.63 between Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders ending up in a washout, Shubman and Co. have become the third side to get eliminated from the IPL 2024 playoff race. This is the first time in their three-year history that GT has been knocked out in the league stages of the IPL. GT, under Hardik Pandya, went on to lift the title in their maiden season in 2022 and reached the final last year, where they lost to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a rain-curtailed game.
The shared point from the washed-out secured Kolkata Knight Riders a top two finishes in the league stage, guaranteeing them a place in qualifier 1 of the playoffs. KKR was assured of a top-two finish with 19 points from 13 games and a place in the Qualifier 1. GT, last year’s runners-up, and 2022 champions, are out of the playoff race, garnering 11 points from 13 matches. GT will close their campaign on May 16 with a match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad.
