IPL 2026 Qualification Scenario: This Team Currently Holds the Upper Hand
Only One Playoff Spot Left in IPL 2026: This Team Has the Advantage: The 19th season of the Indian Premier League has entered its final stage after the 66th league match between the Gujarat Titans and the Chennai Super Kings on May 21. CSK needed a win to stay alive in the playoff race, but they suffered a heavy 89-run defeat, ending their campaign.
With this victory, the Gujarat Titans moved to 18 points with a Net Run Rate of 0.695. So far, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have qualified for the playoffs. Four teams are still fighting for the final spot, with the Rajasthan Royals in the strongest position.
Rajasthan Royals are currently fourth with 14 points from 13 matches. If they beat the Mumbai Indians on May 24, they will directly qualify for the playoffs with 16 points. If they lose, they will depend on losses for both the Punjab Kings and the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Punjab Kings are fifth with 13 points after six straight defeats. To qualify, they must beat the Lucknow Super Giants and improve their Net Run Rate. They also need Rajasthan Royals and KKR to lose.
KKR also have 13 points from 13 matches. They must defeat the Delhi Capitals and hope that both the Rajasthan Royals and the Punjab Kings lose their final games.
Delhi Capitals are still mathematically in the race with 12 points, but their chances are very slim. They need a big win over KKR and also require Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings to lose heavily to qualify on Net Run Rate.
ALSO READ: Invest ₹12,000 Monthly and Build a ₹2 Crore Retirement Fund
