The race for one remaining spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) playoffs is heating up, with four teams in contention. Rajasthan Royals (RR) are the favourites to make it to the top four, as they are the only side that can get to 16 points at present. But that means they need to win their final league stage fixture against MI on Sunday. However, if they lose, then it gives a golden opportunity for the three other sides – Punjab Kings (PBKS), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and Delhi Capitals (DC) to make it to the top four. However, this involves a lot of permutations and combinations of how the results go, with each team depending on how the results of the other teams’ fixtures emerge.
IPL 2026 Playoffs qualification scenarios
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
RR face the Mumbai Indians (MI) on Sunday in their final league stage fixture. The math is quite simple. If they win the contest, they go to 16 points and qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs. The results of the other teams’ fixtures won’t matter as no other team can reach 16 points. At present, RR are sitting on 14 points with a NRR of +0.083. A loss will mean they will be eliminated from the tournament.
Delhi Capitals (DC)
Delhi Capitals, who are currently 8th on the points table with just one game left, face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their last league stage game. The contest is a must-win for DC to fancy a chance of making it to the IPL 2026 playoffs. However, that victory alone won’t suffice.
The math is quite complicated for DC. Firstly, they need to beat KKR by a big margin. And then, RR will have to lose against MI. They also need PBKS to lose to LSG on Saturday if they want to stay alive. The biggest setback for DC is its negative NRR of -0.871 at present. Therefore, even if they win their final game against KKRR, they must do so by a huge margin. And in case RR lose to MI by 110 runs, then DC will have to beat KKR by a mammoth 139-run margin to improve their NRR and pip RR to make it to the top four. This, of course, is subject to other results as well.
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Shreyas Iyer-led PBKS currently have 13 points to their name, and a win against Lucknow Super Giants will take them to 15 points. However, apart from beating LSG by a healthy margin, they will have to pray that RR lose their contest on Sunday against MI, and DC beat KKR to ensure their safe passage to the fourth spot.
If RR win, then PBKS can bid goodbye to their aspirations of making it to the IPL 2026 playoffs. If PBKS and KKR both win, then the net run-rate will come into play. Both teams have 13 points each at present, but PBKS have a higher NRR of +0.027 compared to KKR’s +0.011.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
KKR, with 13 points to their name and a NRR of +0.011, will take on DC in what will be a virtual knockout. A win, that too by 14 runs or one over to spare, will power them to 15 points. But that won’t be enough for the side to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs. They will still need RR to lose to MI, and PBKS to lose to LSG apart from defeating DC themselves.
Updated IPL 2026 points table
