race of ipl 2026 The title has now reached its final stage Gujarat Titans (GT) And Rajasthan Royals (RR) Get ready for a high-pressure Qualifier 2 encounter Maharaja Yadvinder Singh International Stadium In New Chandigarh on Friday. With a place in the final against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) On the line, both teams will enter the knockout encounter knowing there is no margin for error.
However, weather concerns have suddenly become a major talking point ahead of the crucial encounter. Fans are anxiously awaiting clarity, with many wondering what would happen if rain washes out the all-important Qualifier 2.
IPL rules for washed out Qualifier 2 matches
Unlike the IPL Final, there is no reserve day in Qualifier 2 in IPL 2026. However, the IPL Governing Council has allotted an additional 120 minutes of extra time to help complete the match in case of interruption due to rain or wet outfield. Match officials will make every possible effort to determine the result. This includes delayed starts, shorter contests, fewer overs chases or even super over shootouts if only a limited time window is available in the evening.
But if weather conditions completely prevent any results from being achieved, the IPL playing conditions are clearly in favor of the team that finished higher in the league-stage standings. This means that if the match is washed out, Gujarat Titans will automatically qualify for the IPL 2026 final. Gujarat finished second in the points table with 18 points from 14 league matches, while Rajasthan finished fourth with 16 points. As a result, GT will progress to the summit clash against RCB in Qualifier 2 without needing to play a single ball.
Why do Gujarat Titans have the edge?
The Titans earned this vital assist through their strong league-stage campaign Shubman Gill. Despite losing Qualifier 1 against RCB in Dharamshala, GT still retained the advantage of being above RR in the standings. Gujarat have consistently been one of the most balanced teams this season, riding on the explosive opening combination of Gill and Sai Sudarshan. Their bowling attack, characterized by Rashid Khan And Kagiso RabadaHas also served at key moments throughout the campaign.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals are going into the match with momentum after the eliminator win Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). led by Riyan ParagRR have shown remarkable resilience in the second half of the season and will now need another big performance to keep their title hopes alive. However, unlike Gujarat, Rajasthan does not have the luxury to make progress despite flood conditions. To reach the final they will have to win on the field.
New Chandigarh Weather Forecast for GT vs RR Qualifier 2
The weather forecast for Friday evening in New Chandigarh remains worrying. The rain activities have already affected the surrounding areas, while the temperatures have dropped significantly across the region following overnight rains. Forecasts suggest that the match will be partly cloudy during the evening with a chance of rain and thundershowers.
If it rains during the competition, strong winds with speeds of 50-80 km per hour can also affect playing conditions. Although organizers are hopeful that the extra 120-minute window will help complete the game, there remains a strong possibility of interruption.
The good news for fans is that conditions are expected to gradually improve by late night compared to the day. Nevertheless, both the franchises, especially Rajasthan Royals, will be watching the sky anxiously ahead of one of the biggest matches of IPL 2026.
Also read: IPL 2026: Kris Srikkanth makes candid comment on Abhishek Sharma after SRH’s exit from playoffs
