Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) are preparing for their important Qualifier 2 match in IPL 2025 on Sunday, June 1, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Bad weather is expected and can affect the start timings by delaying it.

In case of no play, the team with higher league stage position will qualify.

So, what happens if the heavens open up during the Punjab Kings versus Mumbai Indians Qualifier 2 clash? Cricket lovers are holding their breath, not just for the big hits and magical deliveries, but also for the rain gods to stay away.

The weather forecast isn't entirely promising, and Ahmedabad could witness showers but what if it downpours? The answer lies in the IPL 2025 playing conditions, which are in place to ensure a result remains likely. These are plans that will take place when the rain gods shows up.

First things first, there will be attempts to complete a full 20-over match. If the rain is intermittent, the umpires will try their best to reduce overs equally for both teams so as to have a fair contest. This might mean a shortened game of, say, 15 or 10 overs per side.

You see this often in limited overs cricket, so the plan is not new.

The calculation of the target for the chasing team in a rain-affected match is based on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, a statistical formula that adjusts the target based on available resources, such as wickets and overs lost.

What if the rain is persistent and prevents even a reduced-overs game? If play is not possible, we enter Super Over territory. In a Super Over, each team gets to bat one over, and the team that scores more runs wins. This is a thrilling way to settle the game.

However, even the Super Over requires a clear window of opportunity, and what if the rain still spoils the party? Then the league stage rankings get important as the team high on the league stage wins by default.

Remember, there's no reserve day for Qualifier 2. The IPL organizers have factored in extra time on the scheduled day to try and complete the match. This extra time allows for delays and stoppages. The priority is always to get a result, even if it means playing late into the night.

But even with the extra time can be of help.

So, in summary, the rain affects the match and the first plan the umpires focus on is reducing the overs for both teams. If that fails, both team aim to play just one over called Super Over.

But if nature decides to be uncooperative and the bad weather doesn't allow to finish the match on the day, the Punjab Kings will advance to the final due to there higher position. Fans across India will be praying for clear skies come to the match day.