A light drizzle at Eden Gardens on the eve of the IPL 2025 opener has raised concerns over a potential washout of the much-anticipated clash between defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), scheduled for Saturday.
The Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata has forecast “thunderstorms with lightning and strong gusty surface winds” in parts of West Bengal between March 20 and 22. An orange alert has been issued, prompting officials to keep the entire playing area under covers on Thursday as a precautionary measure.
The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League is set to kick off at the iconic Eden Gardens with a grand opening ceremony featuring performances by singers Shreya Ghosal and Karan Aujla, and Bollywood actress Disha Patani. However, the persistent rain threat now looms large over the festivities.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), a trough from central Odisha to Vidarbha and wind confluence over eastern and central India is likely to cause scattered light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and gusty winds across the region.
While preparations continue at full pace, the weather remains a key factor ahead of the marquee season opener.
