It is that time of the year when fans start bringing out their calculators because the Indian Premier League 2026 is reaching the playoffs, and the teams have only three to five matches left in the league stage. The five-time champions Mumbai Indians and the Lucknow Super Giants have already been knocked out of the race, sitting at the bottom of the table. Now, the do-or-die battle begins between Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Delhi Capitals, whose chances are slim but certainly not finished. Just as the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, proved in 2024 that a 1% chance is still a chance, it cannot be said that any team with a glimmer of hope is out of the race. So, let’s have a look at how the IPL 2026 playoff path looks at the moment.
IPL 2026 Eliminated Teams
Mumbai Indians (MI)
The five-time champions have endured a nightmare 2026 campaign. Despite having a star-studded lineup, MI became one of the first teams to be officially eliminated from the playoff race after suffering their eighth loss of the season against RCB.
With only 6 points from 11 matches, even three consecutive wins in their final games would only take them to 12 points, well below the 16-point qualification mark.
-
Matches Remain: 3 (Against KKR, PBKS, GT)
-
Maximum Points Possible: 12
-
Current Status: Eliminated (9th Place)
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Joining MI on the early flight home are the Lucknow Super Giants. LSG’s fate was sealed following a defeat against Chennai Super Kings on May 10.
Lucknow sits at the bottom with just 3 wins from 11 outings. The lack of support for their top order and a fluctuating Net Run Rate (NRR) of -0.907 meant that mathematically, they could no longer catch up to the top four.
-
Matches Remain: 3 (Against CSK, SRH, RR)
-
Maximum Points Possible: 12
-
Current Status: Eliminated (10th Place)
IPL 2026 Playoff Scenario:
How can CSK qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs?
The Yellow Army is currently perched in 5th place with 12 points from 11 matches. To breathe easy, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s men need at least two wins from their remaining three matches (against LSG, SRH, and GT) to reach the magic number of 16 points.
While their Net Run Rate (+0.185) is healthy, losing more than one game would leave them dependent on Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings losing their respective fixtures. If they win all three, they could even push for a Top-2 finish.
-
Matches Remain: 3 (Against LSG, SRH, GT)
-
Must Win: 2
-
Current Points: 12, 5th Place
How can KKR qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs?
The path for the Kolkata Knight Riders is almost over but not impossible. Currently in 8th place with 9 points from 10 games, Ajinkya Rahane’s side must win all four of their remaining matches (against RCB, GT, MI, and DC) to reach 17 points.
Even one loss would leave them stranded at a maximum of 15 points, which likely won’t be enough given the strong form of the top three teams. Their negative NRR (-0.169) also means they need to win big to stand a chance in tie-break scenarios.
-
Matches Remain: 4 (Against RCB, GT, MI, DC)
-
Must Win: 4
-
Current Points: 9, 8th Place
How can DC qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs?
Delhi Capitals kept their flickering hopes alive with a gritty win over PBKS on Monday, but they remain on life support. With 10 points from 12 matches, DC can only reach a maximum of 14 points.
For Axar Patel’s team to qualify, they must win their remaining two games against RR and KKR and pray for a chaotic series of results where multiple teams get stuck on 14 points. However, their disastrous NRR of -0.993 is their biggest enemy; they would need to win their remaining games by massive margins while hoping others lose heavily.
-
Matches Remain: 2 (Against RR, KKR)
-
Must Win: 2 (And depend on NRR)
-
Current Points: 10, 7th Place
How can GT qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs?
The Gujarat Titans are in a very comfortable position with 14 points from 11 games. For Shubman Gill’s side, the math is simple: one win from their remaining three matches (against SRH, KKR, and PBKS) will take them to 16 points, which should be enough to guarantee a top-four finish.
If they manage to win two or more, they will be strong contenders for the Top 2, giving them two shots at reaching the final. Their positive NRR (+0.228) acts as a solid safety net.
-
Matches Remain: 3 (Against SRH, KKR, PBKS)
-
Must Win: 1
-
Current Points: 14, 3rd Place
How can RR qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs?
Rajasthan Royals have a slightly tighter rope to walk, currently sitting on 12 points from 11 matches. To avoid relying on other results, the Royals must win at least two of their last three games to earn 16 points.
Their current NRR of +0.082 is the lowest among the top six teams, so they cannot afford to tied on points with the likes of CSK or PBKS. Every win from here on needs to be a convincing one to boost that margin.
-
Matches Remain: 3 (Against DC, PBKS, RCB)
-
Must Win: 2
-
Current Points: 12, 6th Place
How can PBKS qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs?
Punjab Kings are the dark horses of the season, currently holding 13 points from 11 matches. They are in a unique position where two wins from their last three games will take them to 17 points, potentially catapulting them into the top two.
Even one win and a washout might be enough. However, with a healthy NRR of +0.428, they are well-placed to edge out RR or CSK if it comes down to a tie-break situation at 14 or 15 points.
-
Matches Remain: 3 (Against SRH, RR, GT)
-
Must Win: 2
-
Current Points: 13, 4th Place
How can RCB qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs?
The table-toppers are almost there. With 14 points and a massive NRR of +1.103, Royal Challengers Bengaluru are effectively one win away from qualification. Because their NRR is so high (+1.103), even if they lose their remaining games and stay on 14 points, they would likely qualify over any other team tied with them.
Their focus now is purely on maintaining the top spot to secure home-ground advantage for the Qualifier 1.
-
Matches Remain: 3 (Against KKR, RR, SRH)
-
Must Win: 1
-
Current Points: 14, 1st Place
How can SRH qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs?
The Sunrisers Hyderabad are mirroring RCB’s success with 14 points from 11 games. To officially seal the deal, they need one more victory from their remaining schedule.
Given their explosive batting form and a strong NRR of +0.737, SRH are not just looking to qualify, but are actively pushing to displace RCB from the top. A win in their next game against GT would confirm their tickets for the playoffs.
-
Matches Remain: 3 (Against GT, PBKS, RCB)
-
Must Win: 1
-
Current Points: 14, 2nd Place
*Note – The qualification scenarios will be updated every day with the latest explanations. Last updated ahead of IPL 2026 match 56. So, keep coming back to check the path to playoffs for each team.
