As cricket fans worldwide eagerly await the epic clash between India and South Africa in the World Cup 2025 final, there's one uninvited guest that could potentially crash the party: rain. With weather forecasts causing anxiety among supporters of both teams, understanding the tournament's contingency plans becomes crucial.
What Happens If the Final Gets Washed Out?
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has established clear protocols for such scenarios, ensuring fairness while maintaining the tournament's integrity. Unlike some group stage matches that might be decided by points sharing, the World Cup final has specific provisions to ensure we crown a legitimate champion.
The Reserve Day Safety Net
Fortunately for cricket enthusiasts, the ICC has allocated a reserve day specifically for the final match. This isn't just an extra few hours—it's a full additional day scheduled to ensure the match reaches a proper conclusion.
The reserve day comes into play under these circumstances:
- If the minimum number of overs cannot be completed on the original match day
- If the match starts but gets interrupted multiple times by weather
- If play is completely abandoned due to persistent rain or bad light
How the Reserve Day Actually Works
Contrary to popular belief, the reserve day doesn't necessarily mean starting from scratch. The ICC's playing conditions allow for match continuity:
- Match Resumption: If the game started on the original day but couldn't finish, it will resume from exactly where it left off
- Carry-Forward: All statistics—runs scored, wickets fallen, overs bowled—carry forward to the reserve day
- Full Quota: Teams get to complete their full 50 overs if the match was interrupted during innings
The Worst-Case Scenario: What If Both Days Get Washed Out?
In the extremely unlikely event that both the original match day and reserve day face complete washouts, the ICC has a final contingency plan. The teams would be declared joint winners, sharing the World Cup trophy—a scenario last seen in the 2002 Champions Trophy when India and Sri Lanka shared the title.
Tie-Breaker Rules: Beyond the Reserve Day
Even if the match completes but ends in a tie after both innings, the excitement doesn't end there. The ICC has implemented a series of tie-breakers:
- Super Over: The first and most thrilling option—a six-ball shootout to determine the winner
- Multiple Super Overs: If the first Super Over also ends in a tie, additional Super Overs are played until we have a clear winner
- Boundary Count: If weather prevents Super Overs, the team with more boundaries during their innings wins
- Net Run Rate: As a last resort, the team with the better tournament net run rate would lift the trophy
The comprehensive planning by ICC ensures that weather, while inconvenient, won't completely rob fans of a deserving World Cup champion. As both teams prepare for their biggest challenge, the rules are firmly in place to handle whatever nature throws at this highly anticipated finale.
