IPL 2026 Playoff Race — Final Top 4
The IPL 2026 league stage finished with RCB, GT, SRH and RR locking up the four playoff spots. Final points table below — RCB and GT took Qualifier 1; SRH and RR met in the Eliminator.
RCB · GT · SRH · RR
RCB (beat GT in Final)
31 May 2026 · Ahmedabad
Points Table — IPL 2026
Top 4 qualify · green = current playoff places · amber = next in line · red = mathematically eliminated
| # | Team | Status | P | W | L | Pts | NRR | Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB | Top 4 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 18 | +1.065 | 1 |
| 2 | Gujarat Titans GT | Top 4 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 18 | +0.695 | 0 |
| 3 | Sunrisers Hyderabad SRH | Top 4 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 16 | +0.350 | 1 |
| 4 | Rajasthan Royals RR | Top 4 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 14 | +0.083 | 1 |
| 5 | Punjab Kings PBKS | In contention | 13 | 6 | 6 | 13 | +0.227 | 1 |
| 6 | Kolkata Knight Riders KKR | In contention | 13 | 6 | 6 | 13 | +0.011 | 1 |
| 7 | Chennai Super Kings CSK | Out | 14 | 6 | 8 | 12 | -0.345 | 0 |
| 8 | Delhi Capitals DC | In contention | 13 | 6 | 7 | 12 | -0.871 | 1 |
| 9 | Mumbai Indians MI | Out | 13 | 4 | 9 | 8 | -0.510 | 1 |
| 10 | Lucknow Super Giants LSG | Out | 13 | 4 | 9 | 8 | -0.702 | 1 |
How the IPL 2026 playoffs work
Four teams qualify. The top two of those four play Qualifier 1 on 26 May — the winner books a direct spot in the final. The 3rd and 4th-placed teams play the Eliminator on 27 May; the loser is out. The Qualifier 1 loser then plays the Eliminator winner in Qualifier 2 on 29 May.
The two survivors contest the IPL 2026 Final on Sunday 31 May at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad — the world's largest cricket stadium, capacity 132,000.
The structure gives the top-two finishers a second life: lose Qualifier 1 and you still have Qualifier 2 to reach the final. The 3rd and 4th-placed teams must win both their playoff games to lift the trophy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which teams qualified for the IPL 2026 playoffs?
RCB topped the league stage, followed by Gujarat Titans in second, Sunrisers Hyderabad third and Rajasthan Royals fourth. CSK, DC, KKR, LSG, MI and PBKS were all eliminated at the league stage.
How did the IPL 2026 playoff format work?
The top four after the league stage qualified. The 1st and 2nd-ranked teams played Qualifier 1 — the winner went straight to the Final. The 3rd and 4th-ranked teams played the Eliminator — the loser was out. The Qualifier 1 loser then met the Eliminator winner in Qualifier 2; the winner of Q2 went to the Final on 31 May at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
Who won the IPL 2026 title?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru — they topped the league, beat GT in Qualifier 1 by 92 runs at Dharamshala, then beat GT again by 5 wickets in the Final at Ahmedabad (Kohli 75* Man of the Match) to become back-to-back IPL champions.
What is Net Run Rate and why does it matter?
Net Run Rate (NRR) is the difference between a team's average runs scored per over and average runs conceded per over across the season. When teams finish level on points, the higher NRR ranks above — so NRR usually decides the final playoff spot.
When were the IPL 2026 playoff matches?
Qualifier 1: 26 May 2026 (Dharamshala). Eliminator: 27 May 2026 (New Chandigarh). Qualifier 2: 29 May 2026 (New Chandigarh). Final: 31 May 2026 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.