Rajasthan Royals secured the final playoff spot in IPL 2026 after defeating Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, joining Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the knockout stage.
Their win on the final day of the league phase took them to 16 points, ahead of Punjab Kings (15) and beyond the reach of Kolkata Knight Riders, who could only reach a maximum of 15 points. With that result, the four playoff teams were confirmed after 70 matches.
Playoff Structure Confirmed
The playoffs will begin with Qualifier 1 between table-toppers RCB and second-placed GT in Dharamsala on May 26. The winner will advance directly to the final on May 31 in Ahmedabad.
The losing side from Qualifier 1 will face the winner of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2 in New Chandigarh. The Eliminator will see Sunrisers Hyderabad take on Rajasthan Royals.
RCB Lead the Pack
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru finished the league stage at the top with 18 points from nine wins in 14 matches, along with a net run rate of +0.783.
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Virat Kohli once again played a leading role, scoring 557 runs to anchor their campaign and help secure a top-two finish.
Gujarat Titans Maintain Consistency
Gujarat Titans also finished on 18 points but placed second due to a slightly lower net run rate of +0.695.
Shubman Gill led their batting charge, amassing 616 runs and playing a key role in their strong finish to the league stage.
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SRH’s Batting Firepower
Sunrisers Hyderabad ended third, completing a three-way tie at the top on 18 points with a net run rate of +0.524. Their campaign was built on an aggressive batting approach.
Abhishek Sharma (563 runs) and Ishan Kishan (569 runs) provided explosive starts, while Heinrich Klaasen added 606 runs in the middle order to finish among the leading run-scorers of the season.
Rajasthan Royals Seal Final Spot
Rajasthan Royals clinched fourth place with 16 points after a crucial win over Mumbai Indians.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi emerged as one of the standout performers, finishing with 583 runs at a strike rate of 232, while Yashasvi Jaiswal provided stability at the top of the order.
Knockout Stage Begins
With the league stage complete, the focus now shifts to the playoffs. RCB and GT will face off in Qualifier 1, while SRH and RR meet in the Eliminator as all four teams chase the IPL 2026 title.
