The historic Eden Gardens will host the highly anticipated inaugural match of the 2025 Indian Premier League between the Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. However, the weather in Kolkata is a major obstacle, as rain is now a real possibility for the season opening.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange Alert for the city, raising doubts over whether the highly anticipated premiere would go ahead as planned.

There is a 74% chance of rain throughout the day and a 90% chance of rain by nightfall, along with thunderstorms, lightning, and high wind. There is still some optimism even if rain is quite likely. According to the AccuWeather Rain Probability Index, the likelihood of rainfall will gradually decline during the day.

The match’s lead-up has already been disrupted by the persistent weather. Around 6 PM on Friday, a rainstorm struck Kolkata, making it impossible for KKR and RCB to finish their planned training sessions.

On Saturday morning, there were also reports of a little rain in Howrah and Kolkata. To make matters worse, the weather even affected KKR’s practice game earlier this week.

Eden Gardens promises a thrilling battle between bat and ball if the match does happen. With low borders and a history of big scores, the location has long been a batting haven. The Punjab Kings set a record of 262 runs, the most successful chase in T20 history, at this same location.

According to the statistics, teams that bat second have won 55 of their 93 games, while those that set a goal have won 38.

But since Kolkata’s renowned team of Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine has often dictated terms with the ball, spin is an important consideration, particularly if the weather cooperates. Early on, seamers may benefit from the pitch’s moisture, which would make the powerplay overs a crucial part of the match.