Gujarat to be crowned IPL champions if rain plays spoilsport tonight

Defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Gujarat Titans would be crowned as winners if rain washes out the final on the reserve day at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Monday.

The grand finale of the IPL was forced into a reserve day for the first time in its 16-year-long history due to heavy rain and thunderstorms in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

Hardik Pandya's side would be handed the trophy by virtue of their position in the league stage as Gujarat topped the table before heading into the playoffs. But that would be the case only if the conditions do not allow any cricket to be played.

The latest time for the contest to be a full 20-over one is 10:10 pm (Bangladesh Standard Time). However, if the start is delayed beyond that, the match will start losing overs.

If rain further curtails the game, then the final would be decided in a five-over contest each, with a scheduled start at 12:26 am (BST).

If conditions do not allow a five-over game, the finalists will fight it out in a Super Over which must start at 1:20 am (BST), and if that fails to happen then the Gujarat would be crowned as champions for the second straight time.