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Revealed: Why Did RCB vs GT IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 Have A Delayed Start? – RCB vs GT IPL 2026 Qualifier 1: Reason Behind Delayed Start Revealed

Reyaansh Bansal · 27/05/2026 · 2 min read

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RCB vs GT IPL 2026 Qualifier 1: Delayed Start Leaves Fans Wondering

The much-awaited IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) had a delayed start at the picturesque Dharamshala Stadium in Himachal Pradesh. The match, which was scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm IST, finally got underway at 7:34 pm, leaving fans and players alike wondering about the reason behind the four-minute delay.

What Caused the Delay?

As the players took to the field, everything seemed to be in readiness for the start of the match. However, just as the proceedings were about to begin, Venkatesh Iyer, who was set to face the first ball, expressed his dissatisfaction with something near the sight screen. He was seen speaking to the umpire, who then walked towards the boundary rope to make some adjustments.

Notably, even Virat Kohli got involved in the discussion, explaining the situation to Shubman Gill, who couldn’t help but burst out laughing. On the other hand, Mohammed Siraj, who was all set to bowl the first over, seemed annoyed with the delay.

This unusual delay has sparked curiosity among fans, who are eager to know what exactly caused the interruption. As the match finally got underway, the players and officials seemed to have put the incident behind them, focusing on the task at hand.

More to Follow…

Stay tuned for more updates on the RCB vs GT IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 match. Also, don’t forget to check out our other article, which reveals why Phil Salt is not playing in today’s match.

Reyaansh Bansal

Reyaansh Bansal is the digital cricket content lead for ESPNcricinfo, where he masters the art of making cricket irresistible on phones, feeds, and timelines. A Mumbai University media graduate, Bansal began his career in sports radio but quickly pivoted to the digital space, recognising that the future of cricket fandom was being shaped on Twitter threads, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. He now leads a creative team that produces viral match recaps, player quizzes, and data‑driven infographics for millions of followers. Bansal’s unique skill is decoding complex match situations into shareable, witty formats without losing the sport’s essence. His work has been praised by current players, broadcasters, and cricket boards for bringing new, younger audiences to the game.