After Delhi Capitals held their nerve to go past Rajasthan Royals by five wickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, the IPL 2026 playoff race has tightened dramatically.
With Royal Challengers Bengaluru already through to the playoffs, three spots remain up for grabs and seven teams are still mathematically in contention.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of all qualification scenarios.
Playoff Qualification Scenarios (IPL 2026)
Gujarat Titans — 16 Points | 1 Match Left vs CSK
Gujarat Titans are sitting in the strongest position among the chasing pack. With 16 points already secured, they are just one win away from locking a top-two finish. A victory against Chennai Super Kings on May 21 will take them to 18 points and guarantee a top-two spot regardless of other results.
Even if they lose, GT are still heavily favoured to qualify due to their strong net run rate and points cushion. Only a highly unlikely combination of wins from SRH, PBKS, RR, and DC alongside a major NRR swing could push them out — making GT almost assured of a playoff berth.
Sunrisers Hyderabad — 14 Points | 2 Matches Left vs CSK, vs RCB
Sunrisers Hyderabad are in complete control of their destiny with two matches remaining. A win in both fixtures will take them to 18 points and almost certainly secure a top-two finish.
Even one win from their final two games pushes them to 16 points, which should be more than enough given their healthy net run rate. However, if they lose both matches — against CSK on May 18 and RCB on May 22 — they risk slipping into a crowded mid-table battle where multiple teams could overtake them.
Punjab Kings — 13 Points | 1 Match Left vs LSG
Punjab Kings enter their final league match with pressure due to their 13-point tally. A win against Lucknow Super Giants on May 23 will take them to 15 points, which is expected to be enough for qualification.
If PBKS lose, they remain on 13 points and will depend entirely on results elsewhere. They would need CSK, RR, and DC to all drop points, while also surviving a net run rate comparison against teams finishing on 14 points.
Chennai Super Kings — 12 Points | 2 Matches Left vs SRH, vs GT
Chennai Super Kings are in a high-pressure phase with two games against top-three opposition. Their first challenge comes against SRH on May 18, followed by GT on May 21.
Winning both games takes CSK to 16 points and almost guarantees qualification. A split (one win, one loss) leaves them at 14 points, where they will depend heavily on PBKS slipping in their final match, while also relying on their marginal net run rate advantage over RR and DC. Two defeats would put them on the brink of elimination.
Rajasthan Royals — 12 Points | 2 Matches Left vs LSG, vs MI
Rajasthan Royals have a relatively favourable path, facing two already-eliminated teams in their final fixtures. They play LSG on May 19 and MI on May 24.
If RR win both matches, they reach 16 points and become strong contenders for a playoff spot. A single win takes them to 14 points, but that may not be enough unless other results go their way and their net run rate (+0.027) holds up against CSK and DC in tie situations.
Delhi Capitals — 12 Points | 1 Match Left vs KKR
Delhi Capitals face a must-win situation with a severely negative net run rate (-0.871), which makes their task significantly harder than others. They can only reach a maximum of 14 points.
To qualify, DC must beat KKR on May 24 by a large margin to repair their net run rate, while also hoping that PBKS lose their final game and that both CSK and RR lose their remaining fixtures. Even then, qualification would depend on a tight NRR comparison, making DC’s path extremely narrow.
Kolkata Knight Riders — 11 Points | 2 Matches Left vs MI, vs DC
Kolkata Knight Riders remain alive despite sitting at the bottom of the playoff race. They have two chances — against MI on May 20 and DC on May 24 — to push themselves into contention.
If KKR win both matches, they reach 15 points and could leap into the top four depending on how PBKS finish their campaign. However, even one defeat will effectively end their qualification hopes, as 13 or 14 points is unlikely to be enough in the current scenario.
Remaining IPL 2026 Fixtures (League Stage)
- May 18 — CSK vs SRH (Chennai)
- May 19 — RR vs LSG (Jaipur)
- May 20 — KKR vs MI (Kolkata)
- May 21 — GT vs CSK (Ahmedabad)
- May 22 — SRH vs RCB (Hyderabad)
- May 23 — LSG vs PBKS (Lucknow)
- May 24 — MI vs RR (Mumbai)
- May 24 — KKR vs DC (Kolkata)
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