The much-anticipated IPL 2025 season opener between reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens on Saturday may be impacted by rain, with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing an “orange alert” for the region.

According to the IMD bulletin, Kolkata is likely to experience “light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds” through to Saturday, raising concerns over the match’s smooth conduct.

The city has already seen intermittent rain over the past few days, disrupting preparations. One of KKR’s inter-squad practice games was cut short after just one innings, and light showers were reported on Wednesday and Thursday. However, both teams managed to complete their training sessions despite the interruptions.

The primary weather concern remains focused on Friday and Saturday, with forecasts indicating these two days may witness the heaviest rainfall.

The KKR vs RCB clash is scheduled for a 7:30 PM IST start, with the toss set for 7:00 PM. The IPL’s playing conditions allow for an additional hour to accommodate rain delays during league matches, with a minimum five-over-a-side match required to constitute a result. If the match is abandoned due to weather, both teams will share a point each.

Adding to the evening’s schedule is an opening ceremony planned before the toss. Following this match, KKR will head to Guwahati to take on Rajasthan Royals on March 26, while RCB will travel to Chennai to face CSK on March 28.