The IPL 2025 match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Delhi Capitals (DC) could be hit by rain after the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Mumbai on Tuesday evening for the next four days.
As per the IMD, the city is expected to receive thunderstorms accompanied with lightning and heavy rainfall. There was rain forecast for Tuesday, too, but it did not arrive until about 8pm IST. By then MI had completed their practice but KL Rahul's batting session in the DC nets was cut short by rain. For most of the evening, dark clouds hovered over the Wankhede Stadium before it became windy and was followed by a downpour. The suburbs of the city experienced heavy rainfall and thunderstorm on Tuesday evening.
If the MI-DC contest gets washed out, the teams will split points. And a lot would hinge on each of their last league game - against Punjab Kings (PBKS) for both of them. MI's last game at the Wankhede - against Gujarat Titans on May 6 - was also a rain-affected game. There were multiple short stoppages, with MI eventually losing by DLS method.
The drainage system at the Wankhede Stadium prevents waterlogging on the field. But the outfield is sand-based, because of which the outfield often remain soggy even if without puddles. Covers are used only for the pitches and the square around that at the venue.
The BCCI had also announced on Tuesday that the remaining league games of this IPL would have an extra 120 minutes added to boost the chances of having a full 40-over game, even with rain interruptions.
This will be the last IPL 2025 game at the Wankhede Stadium, which is also set to host the T20 Mumbai, Mumbai Cricket Association's T20 league, from June 4 to 12.