I find it very frustrating when I purposefully wait to start a fight so myself or someone else can move stronger heroes closer and someone else starts my fight for me. If there was a delay, maybe somone else can’t start it until only ten seconds are left on the counter (or in the case of ambushes/hideout after a minute has passed), then I think a lot of that frustration would be avoided.
This needs to happen, if your character finds the thief, you should be the one who has first opportunity to activate the battle. After 10 seconds it’s fair game (as you don’t want to be locked out from doing AFK battles)