Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) tightened the IPL 2026 playoff race by defeating Chennai Super Kings by five wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday, May 18. Sunrisers Hyderabad’s win also confirmed the Gujarat Titans’ playoff spot.
Earlier, Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured their playoff spot by defeating Punjab Kings by 23 runs in Dharamsala on Sunday. With Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Gujarat Titans now qualifying for the playoffs, only one spot remains.
Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Kolkata Knight Riders are all still in the race for that final playoff spot. With seven league-stage matches remaining, the race for qualification is expected to get even tighter.
Three of the four playoff spots in IPL 2026 have been taken, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and Gujarat Titans (GT) securing qualification. Only one spot remains, and here’s what the five contenders need to do to get it.
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IPL 2026 Playoff Race Intensifies as Five Teams Battle for 4th Spot
1. Punjab Kings
Played: 13, Points: 13, NRR: 0.227
Remaining match: LSG (A)
Punjab Kings are in a tricky position with only one playoff spot remaining up for grabs. Even if they win their final league match and finish on 15 points, qualification is not guaranteed, as Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals can still push them out of the race.
PBKS also have a chance to qualify with 13 points. For that scenario to unfold, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Chennai Super Kings must lose all their remaining matches. KKR would need to beat the Delhi Capitals but lose to the Mumbai Indians.
In that case, both KKR and PBKS would finish on 13 points, with net run rate deciding which team advances to the playoffs.
Remaining fixtures
- May 23: Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants
2. Rajasthan Royals
Played: 12, Points: 12, NRR: 0.027
Remaining matches: LSG (H) and MI (A)
Rajasthan Royals will qualify for the playoffs if they win both of their remaining matches, and they are the only team to have fate in their own hands.
However, if they win one and lose one, the qualification scenario becomes complicated. In that case, Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings could surpass them on points, while Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings could also finish level with them on 14 points, bringing net run rate into play.
If Rajasthan loses both their remaining matches, they will finish on 12 points and be eliminated from the competition.
Remaining fixtures
- May 19: Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants
- May 24: Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians
3. Chennai Super Kings
Played: 13, Points: 12, NRR: -0.016
Remaining match: GT (A)
Chennai Super Kings need to win their last league match, and even then, qualification is not guaranteed. Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders can still go past them on points. Even the Delhi Capitals can catch them on 14 points before net run rate calculations come into the picture.
If the Super Kings lose their last league match, they will be knocked out of the competition.
Remaining fixtures
- May 21: Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans
4. Delhi Capitals
Played: 13, Points: 12, NRR: -0.871
Remaining match: KKR (A)
Delhi Capitals are in a situation similar to Chennai Super Kings, with 12 points from 13 matches. The key difference, however, lies in their net run rate. DC’s net run rate of -0.871 is significantly lower than CSK’s -0.016, meaning the Super Kings could hold the advantage if qualification comes down to net run rate between the two sides.
For now, the equation is simple for the Capitals. They must win their final league match to stay alive in the playoff race, as a defeat would eliminate them from the competition.
Remaining fixtures
- May 24: Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders
5. Kolkata Knight Riders
Played: 12, Points: 11, NRR: -0.038
Remaining matches: MI (H) and DC (H)
If Kolkata Knight Riders win both of their remaining matches, they will finish on 15 points, but even that may not guarantee qualification. Rajasthan Royals could still finish ahead with 16 points, while Punjab Kings can also end on 15, bringing net run rate into the equation.
KKR can also qualify with 13 points, but that scenario requires Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings, and Delhi Capitals to lose all of their remaining matches. In that case, KKR and PBKS would both finish on 13 points, with net run rate deciding which team advances to the playoffs.
However, if KKR loses both of its remaining matches, it will be eliminated from the competition.
Remaining fixtures
- May 24: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals
| Rank | Team | Playoffs | Played | Won | Lost | NR | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RCB | Qualified | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 1.065 |
| 2 | GT | Qualified | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 0.400 |
| 3 | SRH | Qualified | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 0.350 |
| 4 | PBKS | TBD | 13 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 0.227 |
| 5 | RR | TBD | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 0.027 |
| 6 | CSK | TBD | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 12 | -0.016 |
| 7 | DC | TBD | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 12 | -0.871 |
| 8 | KKR | TBD | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 11 | -0.038 |
| 9 | MI | Eliminated | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 8 | -0.504 |
| 10 | LSG | Eliminated | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 6 | -0.701 |
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Top Three Teams Fighting For The Top Two Spots
The three teams that have already secured their playoff spots are now aiming for a top-two finish. RCB is best positioned to finish in the top two, with a net run rate of 1.065 and 18 points. To stay on the safe side, they must not lose by a large margin to SRH.
GT and SRH are currently tied on 16 points, and their net run rates differ by only 0.05. If RCB loses by approximately 88 runs, its net run rate will fall below SRH’s. Even then, RCB will remain in the top two unless GT wins its final league game against CSK by a large margin (more than 75 runs).
If GT and SRH both win their respective matches, SRH will need to win by approximately 13 runs more than GT’s margin to stay atop. Similarly, if both teams lose their final game, GT could lose by approximately 12 runs more than SRH’s margin of defeat against RCB.
If both GT and SRH finish on 16 points, they should be wary of RR, who also have a chance to finish on 16 points by winning their last two matches and surpassing them on net run rate. The top two teams will face off in Qualifier 1, with the winner advancing directly to the final.
Teams placed third and fourth will meet in the Eliminator, where the loser will be eliminated. The loser of Qualifier 1 will then take on the winner of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2 for the remaining place in the final. The race for the IPL 2026 playoffs is turning out to be a nail-biting affair.