The IPL clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings in Bengaluru today (April 18) is likely to be affected by rain, with thunderstorms set to hit in the evening.
Back on home soil after their win away to Rajasthan Royals, RCB face a crunch clash against Punjab Kings, who they are equal with in points in the table. PBKS are coming off the back of a remarkable performance against KKR, where they defended 111 runs to set a new record for the lowest total successful defended in IPL history.
RCB vs PBKS, live weather updates: Toss delayed
However, rain is likely to affect the game this evening, with thunderstorms and wind set to sweep through the Chinnaswamy Stadium. With rain having fallen earlier in the day, the toss has not yet happened as of 7pm IST, the scheduled time for the coin flip.
Match 34, Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings
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- Ball by ball Over
9:10pm IST: The covers are finally off!
8:12pm IST: A drizzle hangs around the ground – still very thin, but more visible now. The covers are unlikely to come off until there is no rain at all.
7:50pm IST: Still no updates on the toss. Since the persistent rain has subsided, fans are hoping to see some action soon. Remember, the sub-air system at the Chinnaswamy Stadium can reportedly pump out 10,000 litres per minute.
7:25pm IST: Players are still resting inside the pavilion, waiting for the weather to relent.
7.15pm IST: As per the latest updates from our correspondent at the ground, the rain has stopped for now. The umpires went out to have a check of the surface, along with the curators. The covers are intact, with the water pooled up a bit. The groundstaff is ready at the edge of the boundary, which indicates the covers could be coming off soon.
The Chinnaswamy Stadium is known for its excellent drainage facility, so if the rain has stopped, it's likely that the game will resume soon.
RCB v PBKS: How likely is rain to disrupt the match?
Accuweather puts the chances of thunderstorms at 5 percent, while the precipitation chances are higher at 22 percent for the whole evening. However, hour by hour chances of rain paint a grimmer picture, with the chances of rain never dipping below 17 percent after the predicted start time of the game. Humidity levels are also predicted to be high for the fixture, crossing the 60 percent mark later in the match.
BBC Weather is slightly more optimistic, predicting that the chances of rain will lessen as the match goes on. According to their hour by hour schedule, the chances of rain at the end of the match should be only eight percent, leaving room for a shortened game later in the evening if the ground staff can clear up the outfield.
The Met Office gives by far the worst chances of getting a game in, with chances of rain over 40 percent at 9pm in Bengaluru, when the first innings should be coming to a close.
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