NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the defending champions, face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 of the IPL 2026 on Tuesday at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. RCB will be aiming to reach their second straight IPL final after finishing the league phase as the top-ranked side, while GT will look to make it to the summit clash for the third time in franchise history—and their first appearance since the 2023 season.
Weather conditions are expected to be relatively favourable, with rain unlikely to play a major role. The forecast indicates that around an hour before the match, the probability of rainfall is above 50 per cent, but as the afternoon progresses toward evening, the odds of interruptions in Dharamshala are expected to reduce.
Even so, if rain disrupts proceedings and continues for a prolonged period, the game could be called off. In such a scenario, a result would require both sides to play a minimum of five overs each.
What happens if the RCB vs GT match is washed out
In the event of a complete wash-out, IPL 2026 playoffs will not offer reserve days for Qualifier 1 or the Eliminator. The team that advances would be determined by their standing in the league table.
For RCB, a wash-out would actually work in their favour because they finished the league stage as table-toppers, giving them the best position to secure a direct path to the final. For GT, a no-result outcome would mean they progress to Qualifier 2, where they would take on the winner of the Eliminator.
It would be a tough break for the two-time finalists, though, as they would miss the opportunity to book their place in the final directly. GT finished second in the points table after the league phase.
The build-up to this high-stakes encounter is packed with storylines. RCB’s campaign into the playoffs has featured a settled batting top order, strengthened by the return of English batter Phil Salt, who is understood to have regained fitness ahead of the match. With the ball, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is expected to spearhead the attack, having led the Purple Cap race.
GT, meanwhile, are built around their opening partnership of captain Shubman Gill and left-handed batter Sai Sudarshan. Alongside their top-order, the Titans also boast a powerful pace unit, driven by the presence of Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder.
