Published on: May 21, 2026 1:56 pm IST|Updated on: May 21, 2026 1:56 pm IST
The Tata IPL 2026 is heading into its business end. We already have three teams that have booked their spot in the IPL 2026 playoffs. However, one slot is still left, and as many as five teams are in contention to grab that spot after 65 games. Three teams have safely booked their spots in the playoffs: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Gujarat Titans (GT), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). On the flip side, Mumbai Indians (MI) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have unfortunately been eliminated.
With one spot remaining in the top 4, the stakes are at their highest. Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, and Chennai Super Kings are all in contention, and here are the scenarios for all 5 teams to make it to the top 4.
Remaining Match: vs Mumbai Indians (May 24)
The Rajasthan Royals are currently sitting in the driver’s seat. Thanks to their earlier win against LSG, they don’t need to rely on any other team’s favors.
If They Lose: If they slip up against Mumbai, they stay on 14 points and will enter dangerous territory. They will have to desperately pray that Punjab Kings, KKR, and CSK all lose their final matches. Luckily for RR, they have a solid Net Run Rate (NRR) cushion which could save them if it comes down to a tie on 14 points.
Remaining Match: vs Lucknow Super Giants (May 23)
Punjab Kings have a very interesting scenario due to an odd 13 points on the board. To stay alive, their equation is simple: they must win.
Remaining Match: vs Delhi Capitals (May 24)
After losing five of their first six games, everyone wrote KKR off. Yet, here they are, riding a late-tournament surge after beating MI.
The Qualification Path: Just like Punjab, KKR can reach a maximum of 15 points if they beat Delhi Capitals. To make it to the IPL 2026 playoffs, they need MI to beat Rajasthan. If Punjab loses to LSG and KKR wins, KKR takes the spot outright. If both Punjab and KKR win, get your calculators out, because it’s NRR time.
Remaining Match: vs Gujarat Titans (May 21)
For the defending champions, the road to the IPL 2026 playoffs has become an incredibly steep uphill climb.
The Qualification Path: First, CSK absolutely must beat the high-flying Gujarat Titans today to reach 14 points. Then, they need a wild combination of external results: LSG must beat Punjab, MI must beat Rajasthan, and Delhi must beat KKR. If a miracle happens and all these results fall into place, RR, CSK, and DC will all be tied on 14 points, and CSK will have to beat RR on Net Run Rate to advance.
Remaining Match: vs Kolkata Knight Riders (May 24)
Delhi Capitals are still technically in the mix, but it is strictly a mathematical possibility.
The Qualification Path: DC needs to beat KKR to get to 14 points. They also need LSG to defeat Punjab and MI to defeat Rajasthan. However, because their Net Run Rate is a severely low -0.993, even if they tie with the other teams on 14 points, they would need to win their final game by an impossible, historic margin to actually qualify.
The stage is set for an unforgettable weekend of cricket. Will the Rajasthan Royals hold their nerve and lock it down themselves? Or will we see Punjab or Kolkata steal the spot at the very last second? Grab your popcorn, because the final race of IPL 2026 is going to be a wild ride!
Tags: IPL 2026