IPL 2026 Playoffs: RCB Qualified, Seven Others Remain In Race

Yesterday’s results have completely shaken up the IPL 2026 playoff race, making the points table tighter than ever. With crucial wins and net-run-rate now becoming a major factor, the battle for top 4 has intensified heading into the final stretch of the league stage. While RCB has already qualified and some teams have strengthened their qualification chances, others are now hanging by a thread, turning every remaining game into a knockout for fans and the franchises.

Wins, NRR, Scenarios: What Teams Need Now

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

RCB will be confirmed of a top-two finish even before their last league game against SRH if

- CSK beats SRH on Monday (May 18) OR

- CSK beats GT on Thursday (May 21)

A win in their final game in Hyderabad will confirm their top position, as no other team can match them at 20 points. RCB can miss out of the top-two in case of an 18-points finish only if SRH and GT beat CSK and edge them on the net run-rate (NRR). But the defending champions are ahead of the other teams here as well, making this a highly unlikely prospect.

Gujarat Titans

Remaining game against: CSK

- GT will be qualified for the playoffs before their last league game if SRH beats CSK or LSG beats RR.

- If SRH loses one of their remaining two games and GT beats CSK, the 2022 champions will be assured a top-two finish.

- If SRH win both their games and GT beats CSK; RCB, SRH and GT will finish with 18 points each, bringing it down to NRR for a top-two finish.

GT can finish outside of top-four in case of a four-way tie at 16 points, if they fall behind SRH, CSK and RR on the net-run-rate. This can happen if each of these results occur:

- CSK beats SRH and GT

- RR beats LSG and MI

- SRH beats RCB

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Remaining games against: CSK, RCB

- SRH will be qualified if they beat CSK on Monday (as will be GT).

- If SRH lose to CSK but beat RCB, they would make it independent of the NRR if GT beat CSK or RR loses at least one game.

- A possible 16 points tie between GT, SRH, CSK and RR can bring NRR into play if (a) CSK beat SRH and GT (b) SRH beat RCB and (c) RR beat LSG and MI.

- SRH can make it with 14 points too, but will need several other results to go their way.

Punjab Kings

Remaining game against: LSG

PBKS can make it with 15 points if:

- Only one of SRH, CSK and RR get to 16 points and

- KKR drop at least one game or they edge out KKR on NRR in case of a 15-points tie

PBKS can make it with 13 points if:

- LSG and MI beat RR

- SRH and GT beat CSK

- KKR beats DC but lose to MI and PBKS stay ahead of KKR on NRR

Chennai Super Kings

Remaining matches against: SRH, GT

CSK can make it with 16 points:

- Without relying on NRR if RCB beats SRH or RR loses at least one game

- They edge out one of RR or SRH on NRR and if Rajasthan Royals win both their matches and SRH beats RCB

CSK can make it with 14 points irrespective of which of their two opponents they beat, but will need several other results to go their way.

If CSK loses to SRH but beats GT, they can make it without depending on NRR, if RR loses both the games, LSG beats PBKS and KKR beats DC but loses to MI.

Rajasthan Royals

Remaining game against: LSG, MI

RR will be qualified with 16 points

-Without depending on NRR if only one of SRH or CSK get to 16 points

- On the basis of NRR if CSK wins both their games and SRH beats RCB

Rajasthan royals can qualify with 14 points too if several other results go their way.

Kolkata Knight Riders

Remaining games against: MI, DC

KKR can qualify with 15 points if:

- Only one of SRH, CSK and RR get to 16 points and

- Either LSG beats PBKS or PBKS beats LSG, they edge out the 2025 runners-up (PBKS) on NRR.

KKR can qualify with 13 points if they beat DC and all the below three results go their way

- SRH and GT beat Chennai Super Kings

- LSG and MI beat Rajasthan Royals

- PBKS lose to LSG and slip below KKR on NRR.

Delhi Capitals

Remaining game against: KKR

DC can qualify with 14 points without NRR coming into the picture if each of these results happen:

- LSG beats PBKS

- LSG and MI beat RR

- SRH and GT beat CSK

They can be tied at 14 points with one, two or three other teams (SRH, CSK and RR) simultaneously, but their NRR of -0.871 gives them almost no chance in this case.

This article is written by Divya Sharma, a student of Kristu Jayanti Deemed to be University, interning with Deccan Chronicle.