What are the rules regarding rain during the IPL playoffs? Is there a Reserve Day or not?
The first Qualifier match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans will be played at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala. This match is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26, and there is a possibility of rain on this day.
Apart from RCB and GT, SRH and RR have also qualified for the playoffs. The Eliminator match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals will take place on May 27 and will be played in New Chandigarh (Mullanpur). The second Qualifier—which will be played between the losing team of the first Qualifier and the winning team of the Eliminator—will be held on Friday, May 29; the winner of this match will become the second finalist. The final match of IPL 2026 is scheduled to take place on May 31 at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Is there a 'Reserve Day' for the playoff matches?
If a match cannot be played on its scheduled day due to rain, and a 'Reserve Day' has been designated for it, the match is completed on the following day. However, a look at the IPL's 'Playing Conditions' reveals that the situation regarding this is not entirely clear. No 'Reserve Day' has been designated for the first Qualifier. Therefore, if the RCB vs GT match is washed out due to rain, Royal Challengers Bangalore will become the first finalist, while Gujarat Titans will have to play in the second Qualifier. This is because, according to the rules, the win is awarded to the team that is placed higher on the points table.
Similarly, there is no 'Reserve Day' for the Eliminator match either; therefore, if the Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals match is washed out due to rain, SRH will advance to the second Qualifier, and RR's journey will end right there. Hyderabad is currently placed third on the points table, while Rajasthan is fourth; this is why Hyderabad will have the advantage.
Is there a 'Reserve Day' for the second Qualifier?
The Second Qualifier is played between the team that loses the First Qualifier and the team that wins the Eliminator match. This match is scheduled to be played in Mullanpur on May 29. No 'Reserve Day' has been designated for this match either; therefore, if the match is abandoned due to rain, the advantage will go to the team entering this contest after losing Qualifier 1 (either RCB or GT).
Is there a Reserve Day for the IPL 2026 Final?
There is a Reserve Day for the IPL Final. This title clash will be played at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31. If the match is interrupted due to rain, it will be completed on June 1, which serves as the Reserve Day.
