Virat Kohli (AP and Screengrab)

NEW DELHI: At the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, a surreal moment unfolded amid the gloom of a rain-soaked evening. As grey clouds loomed and the fate of the IPL 2025 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) hung in balance, a flock of white pigeons soared above the ground, a quiet, almost poetic salute to Virat Kohli and his recently concluded red-ball career. For fans in the stands, it felt as if even nature had paused to honour the legacy of one of cricket’s greats.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!While the symbolic flight of the pigeons stirred emotion, the practical mood was tense. Persistent rain delayed the toss and threatened to wash out one of the most anticipated matches of the season. Watch:IPL officials posted updates on X, confirming the weather-related disruption: “The toss has been delayed due to rain in Bengaluru. Stay tuned for further updates.”The rules are clear: if rain continues past 8:45 PM IST, overs will begin to be reduced. The cut-off time for a five-over match to begin is 10:56 PM IST, leaving fans with hope that some cricket might still be possible if the skies clear.

For RCB, currently second with 16 points, a win would guarantee a playoff spot and likely a top-two finish, a huge advantage in the knockout stage. Their recent run of four consecutive wins has made them serious title contenders.Meanwhile, KKR face a do-or-die scenario. With just 11 points, they must win both remaining games and rely on other results to sneak into the playoffs.In a stadium filled with tribute T-shirts and soaked fans chanting Kohli’s name, the rain may have stalled the match, but not the spirit of cricket or the celebration of a legend.