IPL 2026 Qualification Scenarios: Five teams, one playoffs spot

With a clinical win over Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on Sunday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru became the first team to seal a playoff berth in IPL 2026. A day later, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans also booked their spots after SRH's win over Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk.

After Match 63, Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants have been eliminated. With seven league-stage matches still to play, five teams remain in contention for the final playoff spot. Here's a look at the current standings and the qualification scenarios:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Q)

Remaining fixtures: SRH (A)

RCB will be confirmed for a top-two finish if:

• CSK beat GT on Thursday (May 21) or
• They beat SRH on Friday (May 22)

A win in Hyderabad confirms top position. RCB can miss out on a top-two finish on 18 points only if GT beats CSK and overtakes them on NRR, which is unlikely given RCB's massive NRR advantage (1.065).

Gujarat Titans (Q)

Remaining fixtures: CSK (H)

GT qualified for the playoffs after SRH beat CSK. A top-two finish depends on the SRH-RCB result.

• If SRH lose to RCB and GT beat CSK, GT gets top-two.
• If SRH beat RCB and GT defeat CSK, all three teams finish on 18 points, leaving NRR to decide.

Example: If RCB lose to SRH by 40 runs (conceding 200), their NRR dips to 0.827. GT would need around a 127-run win over CSK to surpass them (assuming a 200 first innings score).

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Q)

Remaining fixtures: RCB (H)

SRH secured a playoff berth with a win over CSK. They can still make top two if:

• They beat RCB and GT lose to CSK.
• They beat RCB and GT beat CSK but have a poorer NRR than SRH.
• If GT beat CSK by 30 runs (scoring 200), their NRR reaches 0.481. SRH would need to beat RCB by around 87 runs to surpass both (assuming 200 first innings).

Punjab Kings

Remaining fixtures: LSG (A)

PBKS can only reach 15 points. They depend on RR and KKR results.
PBKS can qualify with 15 points if:

• They beat LSG and RR lose one game, and
• KKR drops at least one game, or PBKS pips KKR on NRR in a 15-point tie.

PBKS can qualify with 13 points if:

• KKR beat DC but lose to MI, and PBKS stays ahead of KKR on NRR.

Rajasthan Royals

Remaining fixtures: LSG (H), MI (A)

RR have lost six of their last eight matches but control their destiny. Two wins take them to 16 points, which is enough to qualify.
RR qualifies with 16 points:

• If they beat LSG and MI.

RR qualifies with 14 points:

• If PBKS, CSK, and DC lose their matches.

Chennai Super Kings

Remaining fixtures: GT (A)

CSK can reach 14 points. They must beat GT and hope RR, PBKS, and KKR all lose so none reach 14 or more. NRR decides the last spot between CSK and DC; CSK currently has a better NRR.
CSK qualifies with 14 points:

• If RR loses both, LSG beats PBKS, and KKR beats DC but loses to MI.

Delhi Capitals

Remaining fixtures: KKR (A)

DC's poor NRR (-0.871) means they must reach 14 points and hope results avoid an NRR battle. They need PBKS, CSK, and RR to lose.
DC qualifies with 14 points without NRR coming into play if each of these results happens.

Kolkata Knight Riders

Remaining fixtures: MI (H), DC (H)

KKR qualifies with 15 points if:

• RR loses one game and LSG beats PBKS.
• RR loses one, and if PBKS beats LSG, KKR stays above on NRR.

KKR qualifies with 13 points if:

• They beat DC and PBKS loses to LSG and trails KKR on NRR.