Is he who reached the Imam before he bowed for the first Rak'ah considered to have caught the Takbirat al-Ihram and its virtue?

Being keen to catch the opening takbir (takbirat al-ihram) with the Imam is desirable and recommended. Texts and narrations have been reported concerning its virtue, among them the hadith: "Whoever prays to Allah for forty days in congregation, catching the first takbir, will be granted two immunities: immunity from Hellfire and immunity from hypocrisy." Many narrations have also been reported from the Salaf concerning their great keenness on it. The majority of scholars hold that catching the first takbir means the worshipper is present for the Imam's opening takbir and immediately says his own takbir thereafter without delay.