The play-off race in IPL 2026 is intensifying with each passing match. On Sunday, Lucknow Super Giants became the first team to fall out of the play-off race before Mumbai Indians followed them out of the race. However, eight teams are still fighting for the remaining four spots.
On Monday, Delhi Capitals were on the verge of becoming the third team to be relegated but Axar Patel’s side kept their hopes alive with a thrilling three-wicket win over Punjab Kings at the HPCA Stadium.
With 15 matches left in the league phase, no team can afford to relax, not even table-toppers Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who could also find themselves under pressure from teams closely chasing them. Sides like Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings endured tough starts to their campaigns before mounting strong recoveries. Meanwhile, PBKS were unbeaten in their first seven games, but four straight defeats suddenly left them looking for answers.
As the league stage enters its decisive phase, the battle for the play-offs is expected to become even tighter, with each result likely to have a major impact on the standings.
This is how the qualifying scenario looks like for teams in IPL 2026
One Foot in the Door Zone – RCB, SRH, GT
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans have 14 points from 11 matches, putting them firmly in contention for the playoffs. In the previous six seasons of the 10-team IPL, RCB’s 14 points were enough to qualify for 2024, showing that seven wins can realistically secure a place in the play-offs.
RCB, SRH and GT now need one more win each to confirm their place in the playoffs. Notably, no team with 16 points in a 10-team IPL season has ever qualified for the play-offs.
Requirement: Win 1 out of 3 of your remaining games and qualify without complications with pure speed
Remaining games
- GT vs SRH – 12 May 2026 at Ahmedabad
- RCB vs KKR – 13 May 2026 at Raipur
- KKR vs GT – 16 May 2026 at Kolkata
- PBKS vs RCB – 17 May 2026 at Dharamshala
- CSK vs SRH – May 18, 2026, at Chennai
- CSK vs GT – 21 May 2026 at Chennai
- SRH vs RCB – May 22 at Hyderabad
Delhi Capitals are hanging on by a thread
Delhi Capitals have only one possible path to the playoffs as they qualify with 14 points. However, even winning the remaining two matches would not guarantee qualification, as clean sheet could become the deciding factor.
This is where the Capitals are at a big disadvantage with a net rate of -0.993, especially considering that every other team in the top six has a positive net rate.
Requirement: Win the remaining 2 matches and wait for more results
Remaining Games:
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
- DC vs RR – 17 May 2026 at Delhi
- KKR vs DC – 24 May 2026 at Kolkata
Chennai, Rajasthan must proceed with caution
For Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, the equation is simple. Winning two of the remaining three league games should be enough to secure a place in the play-offs. If they win all three, they could even finish in the top two.
A single win would still keep them in contention, but neither side would want qualification to depend on other results and net run calculations.
Requirement: Win 2 of the remaining 3 games and qualify without complications with pure speed
Remaining Games:
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
- LSG vs CSK – 15 May 2026 at Lucknow
- CSK vs SRH – 18 May 2026 at Chennai
- CSK vs GT – 21 May 2026 at Chennai
“Odd” zone – PBKS and KKR
Kolkata Knight Riders need to win all their remaining four matches to secure a place in the playoffs. Four straight wins would take them to 17 points for the season. Even if they win three games and one game is suspended or cancelled, they can still qualify with 16 points.
However, a single defeat could leave KKR stuck on 15 points, a position that could prove painfully short of qualification, with net run rate and other results likely to decide their fate.
For Punjab Kings, they have qualification firmly in their hands. A win in two of their remaining three games would take them to 17 points and secure a place in the play-offs. Even if they win one game, lose one and forfeit another, they can still qualify with 16 points.
However, more than one defeat in their last three matches could leave PBKS in a precarious position in the playoffs.
Requirement: KKR need to win all four matches to qualify without any complications. Meanwhile, PBKS needs at least two wins in its last three games to qualify.
Remaining Games:
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
- PBKS vs MI – 14 May 2026 at Dharamsala
- KKR vs GT – 16 May 2026 at Kolkata
- PBKS vs RCB – 17 May 2026 at Dharamsala
- KKR vs MI – 20 May 2026 at Kolkata
- LSG vs PBKS – 23 May 2026 at Lucknow
- KKR vs DC – 24 May 2026 at Kolkata
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
12 May 2026 09:18 IST
