By Admin 
The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League is nearing its end. The first finalist team of this season will be found on Tuesday. The team that wins Qualifier-1 will directly enter the final, this match is between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans. But what if rain interferes and the match does not take place? Fans have many questions in their minds, like is there a reserve day for the playoffs? And if not, which team will go ahead if the match is cancelled? All questions are answered here.
First of all let us explain the rules of IPL playoff. The top 4 teams in the points table reach the playoffs, this season these 4 teams are RCB, GT, SRH and RR. Top-2 teams get 2 chances to go to the finals. This time Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans are in the top-2. The winning team goes to the finals, the losing team plays Qualifier-2.
There is an eliminator match between the teams ranked third and fourth in the points table, the winning team reaches Qualifier-2 and the losing team is eliminated. The eliminator match will be played between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals on 27th May.
Also read- Everyone’s eyes will be on the performance of these 5 players in the first qualifier of Bengaluru and Gujarat.
Is there a reserve day for Qualifier 1?
There is no clarity about reserve day in the playing conditions of IPL, but rule 13.7.3 states that there can be a reserve day in the playoffs. Although reserve day has never been kept for qualifiers or eliminators before, reserve day has been kept only for the finals.
The 2023 final was played on the reserve day. That means there is no reserve day for Qualifier-1 of IPL 2026. Now a question will arise in the minds of fans that if the match does not take place due to rain, then how will the finalists be decided? The answer lies in playing conditions.
Also read- 5 international players who played for Team India, who did not get a chance to play a single match in IPL 2026
What will happen if RCB vs GT Qualifier-1 is cancelled?
There will be extra time to conduct Qualifier-1, in which the match should be of at least 5-5 overs. If this is not possible then the match will be considered cancelled. If the Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat Titans match is canceled due to rain, then the team which is on top in the points table will go to the final.
RCB and GT have 18-18 points, but in terms of net run rate, Bengaluru (+0.783) is ahead of Gujarat (0.695) and that is why it is on top. That means, if Qualifier-1 is canceled due to rain, then Royal Challengers Bangalore will go to the final and Gujarat will have to play Qualifier-2.