Last Updated on May 11, 2026 by admin
IPL 2026 Playoff Predictions — Which 4 Teams Will Qualify?
The IPL 2026 playoff race has entered its most decisive phase. With just three league rounds remaining before the May 24 cutoff, eight of the ten teams are still mathematically in contention for the four playoff spots — even if some of those routes are near-impossible. Two teams, Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants, have already been eliminated. Everyone else is fighting.
Three teams sit on 14 points each at the top. Below them, one team on 13, two on 12, one on 9, one on 8, and two already gone. The tightest playoff race in recent IPL history is going right down to the final weekend. In this guide, we break down every team’s chances, their remaining fixtures, what they need, and our final prediction for the four playoff qualifiers.
For IPL playoff betting, head to Dura Gaming’s IPL Betting section for the latest odds on team outright markets and playoff qualification.
How the IPL 2026 playoffs work
IPL 2026 points table — May 11, 2026 (after Match 52)
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR | Remaining | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RCB 🏆 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 14 | +1.234 | 3 | In top 4 |
| 2 | SRH | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 14 | +0.737 | 3 | In top 4 |
| 3 | GT | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 14 | −0.147 | 3 | In top 4 |
| 4 | PBKS | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 13 | +0.571 | 4 | In top 4 |
| 5 | CSK | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 12 | +0.151 | 3 | In contention |
| 6 | RR | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 12 | +0.510 | 3 | In contention |
| 7 | KKR | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 9 | −0.169 | 4 | Slim chance |
| 8 | DC | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 8 | −1.154 | 3 | Near-impossible |
| 9 | MI ❌ | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 6 | −0.649 | 3 | Eliminated |
| 10 | LSG ❌ | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 6 | −0.934 | 3 | Eliminated |
Shaded green = current top 4. Shaded amber = in contention. Source: ESPNcricinfo live standings.
Team-by-team qualification analysis
Defending champions RCB are now in a strong position for playoff qualification with 14 points from 11 matches. They could still take their tally to 20 points if they win their remaining games, which will be more than enough for a top-four spot. The Bengaluru-based side will probably require at least one victory from their remaining four league matches to secure a playoff berth.
Their NRR of +1.234 is comfortably the best in the competition — giving them a significant tiebreaker cushion if any teams end on equal points. Remaining fixtures: vs KKR (home), vs PBKS (away), vs SRH (away). The SRH clash in the final round could be a de facto top-two decider.
Propelled by an explosive top order, Sunrisers Hyderabad find themselves in the top half of the IPL 2026 points table with one victory in their remaining three games enough to take them to the magic figure of 16.
SRH have been the form team of the second half of the season — six wins from their last seven games is the best run of any side over that stretch. Their remaining schedule includes the blockbuster SRH vs GT clash which could settle the top-two positions. Remaining fixtures: vs GT (away), vs CSK (away), vs RCB (home).
Gujarat Titans arrived in Jaipur with momentum on their side and got a much-needed win to make it four wins in a row. Shubman Gill’s side has recovered well and broke into the top four with a statement win away from home. Their only concern is a slightly negative NRR of −0.147, which means they cannot rely on the tiebreaker if they end level on points with RCB or SRH.
With one win needed from three remaining games, GT are also effectively through. Their remaining schedule is tough — SRH away, KKR home, CSK home — but their bowling attack of Rabada and Rashid gives them a genuine match-winning combination every game. Remaining fixtures: vs SRH (H), vs KKR (away), vs CSK (H).
Last year’s finalists Punjab Kings have been in brilliant form this season. However, they dropped a few points due to a washout in Kolkata and three back-to-back losses. They need just three more points to hit the magic mark. Shreyas Iyer’s men are also in the running to break the record for most points in the IPL group stages — 20 — in the current 70-game format.
PBKS have a game in hand over RCB, SRH and GT — which is significant. They can reach a maximum of 21 points if they win all four remaining fixtures. Even winning just two puts them at 17 — comfortably safe. Their only real risk is if they lose three or four games while CSK or RR win all of theirs. Remaining fixtures: vs DC (H), vs MI (H), vs RCB (H), vs LSG (A).
Chennai Super Kings recovered impressively after a difficult start and are still alive in the playoff race. The five-time champions have 12 points from 11 games along with a net run rate of 0.151. CSK likely need at least two wins from their final three fixtures to reach the 16-point mark, which is generally considered safe for qualification.
CSK’s remaining fixtures are tough — they face LSG (manageable), GT away (very tough), and SRH away (extremely tough). Winning both non-SRH games gets them to 16 points, but they would then rely on PBKS and RR not also reaching 16. Sanju Samson (402 runs) and Anshul Kamboj (19 wickets, Purple Cap 2nd) give them genuine match-winning threats. Remaining fixtures: vs LSG (H), vs GT (A), vs SRH (A).
Rajasthan Royals have enjoyed an impressive campaign under Riyan Parag despite a few recent setbacks. RR now sit just outside the top four with 12 points. This loss could complicate matters significantly, especially with several teams closely packed in the standings. RR would now likely need victories in at least two of their remaining three matches to stay in control of their qualification hopes. Remaining fixtures: vs DC (A), vs LSG (H), vs MI (A).
RR’s saving grace is their remaining fixtures: DC away, LSG at home, MI away. All three opponents are bottom-half teams — DC (8 pts), LSG (6 pts, eliminated), MI (6 pts, eliminated). Winning all three would take them to 18 points and an almost certain top-four finish. The individual brilliance of Suryavanshi (440 runs, SR 237) means they are capable of winning all three. However, after five defeats in seven games, their form is unreliable.
KKR remain mathematically alive but face a difficult road ahead. They have won four of their 10 matches and currently have nine points with a negative net run rate. The defending champions need victories in all four remaining games to reach 17 points. Apart from winning consistently, they will also rely heavily on results elsewhere. Remaining fixtures: vs RCB (A), vs GT (H), vs MI (H), vs DC (H).
Delhi Capitals’ campaign has lost momentum after a promising beginning. Axar Patel’s side currently has eight points from 11 matches. DC must win all three remaining games to stay alive. Even then, they may need favourable results from other teams because their maximum possible tally is only 14 points. A deeply negative NRR of −1.154 means even reaching 14 points may not be enough.
Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians were the first teams to be eliminated from the race for the IPL 2026 playoffs. After LSG lost to CSK on May 10, MI’s defeat at the hands of RCB later on the same day sealed both teams’ fate. Both are on 6 points from 11 games with a maximum possible tally of 12 — not enough to qualify in a season where 16 points appears to be the safe mark.
Our final 4 playoff prediction
Based on current standings, remaining fixtures, form, NRR, and squad depth, here is our definitive prediction for the four IPL 2026 playoff qualifiers:
Betting on IPL 2026 playoffs
The playoff qualification markets and outright winner markets on Dura Gaming are now the most active IPL betting categories with just three rounds left. Here is how to approach them:
Team qualification bets
RCB, SRH, and GT are all near-certainties — odds on them to qualify should be very short. PBKS at a slightly longer price represents the best value of the four near-certain qualifiers. If you believe in CSK’s ability to beat LSG and steal one result from GT or SRH away, backing CSK to qualify at a longer price is the most interesting speculative bet in this market.
Top-2 finish bets
SRH are our pick to finish 1st overall — their head-to-head fixtures with GT and RCB give them the schedule to prove it. RCB’s NRR of +1.234 is the best in the league, meaning even if they lose one game they are likely to stay in the top two. SRH and RCB to both finish in the top two is our recommended outright market bet heading into the final three rounds.
Outright winner
SRH have the most in-form batting unit in the tournament (Klaasen 494 runs, Abhishek 475 runs) and are our pick to win IPL 2026. RCB as defending champions with Bhuvneshwar’s bowling (21 wickets) and the psychological edge of defending a title are the second favourite. GT at a longer price are a genuine dark horse — Rabada and Rashid in knockout conditions are extremely dangerous. For our full outright winner breakdown, see our Most Dangerous Team in IPL 2026 analysis.
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Conclusion
The IPL 2026 playoff race is the most competitive the competition has seen in years. Three teams locked on 14 points, one on 13, two more on 12 all chasing four spots — the final three rounds will determine everything. Our prediction: SRH, RCB, GT, and PBKS will be the four teams standing at the end of the league stage, in that order. The swing match is SRH vs GT, which could settle the 1st vs 3rd debate. The nail-biter to watch is the 4th-spot battle between PBKS, CSK, and RR.
Follow every match with the latest odds and analysis on Dura Gaming’s IPL Betting section, and keep reading the Dura Gaming blog for weekly predictions throughout the playoffs.
