The race for the IPL 2026 playoffs has become incredibly intense. Following Sunrisers Hyderabad’s recent 5-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings on Monday, three teams have officially secured their places in the top four. This leaves five other teams desperately fighting over the one remaining playoff spot, making the final league matches absolutely crucial.
Already Qualified:
These teams have secured their berths in the playoff rounds, and are waiting for the fourth team.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): Sitting comfortably at the top with 18 points.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): Reached 16 points after successfully chasing down 181 runs against CSK.
Gujarat Titans (GT): Also locked in with 16 points.
The Mad Scramble for the 4th Spot
With only one spot left, five teams are still mathematically in the hunt. Here is their current status:
Punjab Kings (PBKS): They have 13 points and only 1 match left to play.
Rajasthan Royals (RR): They have 12 points but hold an advantage with 2 matches left (allowing them to potentially reach 16 points).
Chennai Super Kings (CSK): They are on 12 points with just 1 match remaining.
Delhi Capitals (DC): Also on 12 points with only 1 match left.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): They have 11 points with 2 matches left, meaning the absolute maximum they can score is 15 points.
The Bottom Line: For teams like PBKS, CSK, and DC, their next match is a must-win. Even then, they will have to pray that other results fall in their favour.
Teams That Are Eliminated:
For these two teams, the tournament is effectively over:
Mumbai Indians (MI)
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
With the margin for error down to zero, the final few league matches are going to be a thrilling rollercoaster. Every single run, wicket and boundary matters now. It’s anyone’s game for that final spot, and cricket fans are in for an absolute treat as the race to the Indian Premier League 2026 playoffs reach its final round.
This article is written by Divya Sharma, a student of Kristu Jayanti Deemed to be University, interning with Deccan Chronicle.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
