The IPL 2026 Clash between classification 1 Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) The HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala provided plenty of entertainment both on and off the field. After RCB’s breathtaking batting in the first innings, the crowd inside the stadium witnessed a spectacular laser and fireworks show during the mid-innings break.
However, amidst the celebrations and musical performances, one particular image from the light show quickly gained attention on social media platforms for all the wrong reasons. Fans online saw what appeared to be an inaccurate depiction of India’s map during the launch, sparking widespread criticism and debate online.
A dispute arose over the map displayed during the Dharamsala light show
During laser presentation, a similar outline India map projected inside the illuminated IPL trophy design. Soon after visuals from the show surfaced online, several users pointed out the apparent geographic inaccuracies in the presentation.
Many viewers claimed that some parts of the country, including regions in the North East along with Jammu and Kashmir, did not look right in the projection. Others pointed out that the contour looked distorted around the Siliguri Corridor area, drawing criticism from fans on social media. Several users demanded clarification on the incident, while others urged the organizers to investigate whether the error was due to a technical glitch during the projection mapping sequence.
We present the video:
Like we’ve never seen 𝗠-in-innings 𝗻𝗮𝗴
🎥 A mesmerizing laser show followed by an inspiring musical performance in Dharamshala 🎶👏
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/9rs6u5obOw#TATAIPL | #Qualifier1 | #LastLeap | #RCBvGT pic.twitter.com/P5SUA4SUkm
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 26, 2026
Rajat Patidar headlines RCB’s dominant batting show
RCB had completely dominated the first half of the contest with the bat before the controversy broke out during the innings break. captain Rajat Patidar He made one of the best playoff innings in IPL history, making an unbeaten 93 off just 33 deliveries.
RCB eventually amassed 254/5 in 20 overs, the highest team total ever recorded in an IPL playoff game. Contributions from Devdutt Padikkal and Krunal Pandya It further strengthened Bengaluru’s commanding position.
RCB have reached yet another IPL final
The Bengaluru bowlers then backed up their batting efforts brilliantly by bowling out Gujarat Titans for 162. A comprehensive 92-run win booked RCB into their second consecutive IPL final as they moved a step closer to successfully defending their title.
Despite the memorable performance on the field, much of the post-match online discussion revolved around the controversial image shown during the Dharamsala light show.
