Rajasthan Royals have strengthened their position as favourites to secure the fourth playoff spot in the Indian Premier League 2026. On Tuesday, May 19, the Royals defeated Lucknow Super Giants by seven wickets at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. A blistering 38-ball 93 from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi powered Rajasthan to a successful chase of 221 with five balls remaining.
IPL 2026, RR vs LSG: Highlights | Scorecard
After Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Chennai Super Kings on Monday at Chepauk, 13 points appeared enough to keep teams in playoff contention. However, Rajasthan’s win over Lucknow has effectively pushed the qualification mark to 14 points, leaving Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals and Chennai needing stronger finishes to stay in the race.
With six matches still left in the league stage, the battle for the final playoff spot is now expected to become even more intense.
Here’s how the playoff scenario look like in IPL 2026
Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan have kept their fate in their own hands with their win over Lucknow. They will qualify for the playoffs without the hassle of net run rate if they manage to win their final league match.
With 14 points, they still remain in contention, but Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders can still knock them out. PBKS and KKR can also overtake them on points, while DC and CSK can only match their total before net run rate comes into play.
Remaining fixtures
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- May 24: Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians
Punjab Kings
For Punjab, the equation is now straightforward. With Rajasthan’s win over Lucknow, Punjab have slipped out of the top four to fifth place in the points table. They now need a win in their final league match to stay alive in the competition.
Even if they reach 15 points, Kolkata and Rajasthan can still eliminate them by going past them on points. A defeat in their last league game will officially knock them out of playoff contention.
Remaining fixtures
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- May 23: Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants
Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals
Chennai and Delhi are in a similar position, both locked on 12 points from 13 matches. Both sides must win their final league game to stay in contention for a playoff berth, although victory alone will not guarantee qualification.
The key difference between the two teams lies in net run rate. Chennai hold a slight advantage with a net run rate of -0.016, compared to Delhi’s -0.871. This could prove decisive if multiple teams finish on the same points.
However, if either side loses their final match, they will be eliminated from the competition.
Remaining fixtures
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CSK
- May 21: Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans
DC
- May 24: Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders
For Kolkata, the equation has become simple as well. The Knight Riders need to win their last two league matches to stay in contention for a playoff berth. Even if they reach 15 points, qualification is not guaranteed as Rajasthan can still overtake them on points.
Punjab can also level them on points and eliminate them on net run rate. A single defeat in either of their remaining league matches will end their campaign and knock them out of the competition.
Remaining fixtures
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
- May 24: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals
– Ends
