IPL 2026 Points Table After Match 68: PBKS move into top four with decisive win over LSG

Punjab Kings’ Prabhsimran Singh and captain Shreyas Iyer (ANI Photo) Punjab Kings kept their IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive after ending their six-match losing streak with a crucial win over Lucknow Super Giants in match 68. Powered by a maiden IPL century from captain Shreyas Iyer, PBKS climbed to fourth place in the points table and remain firmly in contention for the final playoff spot heading into the final round of the league.PositionTeamPWLNRPtsNRR1Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Q)1495018+0.7832Gujarat Titans (Q)1495018+0.6953Sunrisers Hyderabad (Q)1495018+0.5244PunjabR Kings1473ajasthans14736111 Royals1376014+0.0836Kolkata Knights Riders1366113+0.0117Chennai Super Kings (E)1468012-0.3458Delhi Capitals1367012-0.8719Mumbai Indians (E)134908-08 (E)1441008-0.740At the top, Royal Challengers Bengaluru continue to lead the standings despite a heavy defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad. RCB finished the league stage with 18 points from 14 matches, recording nine wins and five losses, along with a healthy net rate of +0.783. Gujarat Titans are second with the same number of points and an identical win-loss record, but their lower NRR of +0.695 keeps them behind Bengaluru.Sunrisers Hyderabad sit third with 18 points and an NRR of +0.524 after also winning nine of their 14 matches. All three teams have already sealed qualification for the playoffs.Punjab Kings are now fourth with 15 points from 14 matches, having won seven matches, lost six and drawn one. Their net run rate currently stands at +0.309. However, their qualification is still not guaranteed, further results will decide whether to maintain the final position in the playoffs.Rajasthan Royals remain fifth with 14 points from 13 matches. RR have won seven and lost six so far and have a +0.083 NRR heading into their last league game. Kolkata Knight Riders are sixth with 13 points from 13 matches, having recorded six wins, six losses and one draw. Their NRR is +0.011, which keeps them mathematically alive in the playoff race.

Will Punjab Kings qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs?

The teams in the bottom half of the table are already out of contention. Chennai Super Kings are seventh with 12 points from 14 matches and an NRR of -0.345 after six wins and eight losses. Delhi Capitals are eighth with 12 points from 13 matches and a poor NRR of -0.871.Five-time champions Mumbai Indians are currently ninth with eight points from 13 matches and an NRR of -0.510 after nine defeats this season. However, MI can still finish at the bottom of the table if they suffer a heavy defeat in their last league match and their NRR falls below Lucknow’s. Lucknow Super Giants currently occupy the bottom spot after managing just four wins from 14 matches, ending their campaign with eight points and an NRR of -0.740.