Ahmedabad: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) are set to clash in the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, with both teams aiming to secure their second Indian Premier League title. While fans are eagerly awaiting the summit clash, weather-related concerns have prompted questions about what would happen if rain interrupts or completely washes out the match.
Fortunately for cricket enthusiasts, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made special arrangements for the tournament finale, including a reserve day. Here is a detailed look at all the possible scenarios if weather affects the IPL 2026 final.
Weather forecast remains favourable
According to weather forecasts, Ahmedabad is expected to witness largely favourable conditions on match day. Reports indicate only a 5 per cent chance of rainfall, with cloud cover expected to remain around 15 per cent.
Although Gujarat Titans’ travel plans were recently disrupted due to heavy rain and storms in parts of North-West India following their Qualifier 2 victory over Rajasthan Royals in Chandigarh, the local forecast for Ahmedabad suggests that a complete washout is highly unlikely.
Nevertheless, IPL regulations have provisions in place should rain interfere with the final.
What happens if rain interrupts the final on Sunday?
If the IPL 2026 final begins on Sunday and is later interrupted due to rain or any other unforeseen circumstances, the match will not automatically be abandoned.
Unlike Qualifier 1, the Eliminator and Qualifier 2, the IPL final has a designated reserve day. This means the match can continue on Monday, June 1, if play cannot be completed on Sunday.
In the event of a stoppage, the game will resume from the exact point at which it was halted. The score, wickets and overs completed will remain unchanged, ensuring that both teams continue under the same match conditions.
This provision ensures that the final has the best possible chance of producing a result on the field.
What happens if the final is washed out completely on Sunday?
If persistent rain prevents any play on Sunday, the entire match will be moved to the reserve day.
Both teams would return on Monday to contest the final in full. The reserve day serves as an extension of the scheduled match day and provides an additional opportunity to complete the title-deciding encounter.
The BCCI introduced this system to minimise the possibility of a championship being decided without a match.
What happens if the reserve day is also washed out?
The most significant question arises if rain prevents the completion of play on both Sunday and the reserve day on Monday.
According to IPL playing conditions, if no result is possible even after the reserve day, the team that finished higher in the league stage standings will be declared champions.
Under this rule, Royal Challengers Bengaluru would be crowned IPL 2026 champions.
RCB finished above Gujarat Titans in the points table at the conclusion of the league stage, giving them the advantage in the event of a complete washout across both scheduled days.
Therefore, if weather prevents a result on both Sunday and Monday, Bengaluru would successfully retain the IPL trophy.
How did RCB and GT reach the final?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru entered the final after a dominant performance against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1. RCB secured a comprehensive 92-run victory to book their place directly in the title clash.
Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, received a second opportunity to qualify through Qualifier 2. The Titans made full use of that chance by defeating Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets to secure their place in the final.
Both teams have been among the most consistent performers throughout IPL 2026 and deservedly earned their spots in the championship match.
Patidar eyes historic achievement
The final also presents a significant opportunity for RCB captain Rajat Patidar.
If Bengaluru lift the trophy, Patidar will become only the third captain in IPL history to win back-to-back titles. The exclusive list currently includes legendary captains MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, who guided Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians respectively to consecutive championships.
Achieving the feat would further strengthen Patidar’s growing reputation as one of the league’s emerging leaders.
Conclusion
While weather forecasts suggest minimal chances of rain in Ahmedabad, IPL regulations ensure that every effort will be made to produce a result. The presence of a reserve day significantly reduces the likelihood of the final being abandoned.
However, if rain washes out both the scheduled match day and the reserve day, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be declared IPL 2026 champions by virtue of finishing higher than Gujarat Titans in the league standings.