With a clinical win over Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on Sunday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru became the first team to seal a playoff berth inIPL 2026. A day later, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans also booked their spots after SRH's win over Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk.

After Match 63 of the season, Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants have been eliminated. With seven league-stage matches still to play, five teams remain in contention for the final playoff spot. Here's a look at the current standings and the qualification scenarios:

Points Table

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Q)

Remaining fixtures: SRH (A)

RCB will be confirmed a top-two finish if:

- CSK beat GT on Thursday (May 21) or

- They beat SRH on Friday (May 22)

A win against Hyderabad will confirm their top position, as no other team can match them at 20 points.

For RCB to lose out on a top two slot, they will have to lose to SRH by 87 runs, and then GT will have to beat CSK by around 76 runs, In that case, all three of RCB, SRH, and GT will end on 18 points each with NRR of 0.642 (RCB), 0.644 (SRH), and 0.646 (GT), presuming teams batting first scores 200

Gujarat Titans (Q)

Remaining fixtures: CSK (H)

GT qualified for the playoffs after SRH beat CSK on Monday. A top-two finish, though, will depend on the SRH-RCB result.

- If SRH lose to RCB and GT beat CSK, GT will be assured a top-two finish.

- If SRH beat RCB and GT defeat CSK, all three teams will finish on 18 points, leaving NRR to decide the top two spots.

- If GT beat CSK by 30 runs on Thursday, they would want RCB, should they lose to SRH on Friday, keep their losing margin to 42 runs or fewer.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Q)

Remaining fixtures: RCB (H)

Their clinical win over CSK at Chepauk assured SRH a playoff berth alongside GT, as only RR can match them on 16 points, and only RCB has more (18 points).

SRH will be in the top two if:

- If they beat RCB and GT lose to CSK

- If they beat RCB and GT defeat CSK, all three teams will finish on 18 points, leaving NRR to decide the top two spots.

Suppose, if GT beat CSK by 30 runs after scoring 200 runs, their NRR reaches 0.481. Then SRH would need to beat RCB by 43 runs to surpass GT's NRR (assuming a 200 first innings score in each case).

Punjab Kings

Remaining fixtures: LSG (A)

PBKS' playoff hopes took another hit with the loss to RCB. With one game left against LSG, they can only reach a maximum of 15 points and now depend on other results, with RR and KKR still capable of finishing on 15 or more.

PBKS can make it with 15 points if:

- They beat LSG and RR lose one game, and

- KKR drops at least one game, or they pip KKR on NRR in case of a 15-point tie

PBKS can make it with 13 points if:

- RR lose both games

- GT beat CSK

- KKR beat DC but lose to MI, and PBKS stay ahead of KKR on NRR

Rajasthan Royals

Remaining fixtures: LSG (H), MI (A)

RR have lost six of their last eight matches. But their playoffs destiny is in their own hands. They have two remaining games against eliminated teams (LSG & MI). If they win both and reach 16 points, that would be enough to qualify. RR can go through with 14 points also if several other results go their way.

RR will be through with 14 points:

- PBKS, CSK, and DC lose their matches and

- MI beat KKR

Chennai Super Kings

Remaining fixtures: GT (A)

The defeat against SRH left CSK sixth in the standings, with just 12 points.

For CSK to make it via 14 points

- They beat GT and

- RR lose both & stay on 12 points, LSG beat PBKS and latter ends with 13, and KKR beat DC, but lose to MI so that KKR end on 13 and DC on 12 points respectively.

- In case of DC beating KKR and/or RR winning one of their games, their will be a tie on 14 points with NRR coming into picture.

Delhi Capitals

Remaining fixtures: KKR (A)

DC's poor NRR (-0.871) means their only path is to reach 14 points and hope results go their way to avoid a NRR battle. That requires PBKS, CSK, and RR to lose their matches, leaving RCB, GT, SRH, and DC as the four qualifiers.

DC will qualify with 14 points without NRR coming into the picture if each of these results happens:

- They beat KKR and

- LSG beat PBKS

- LSG and MI beat RR

- GT beat CSK

Kolkata Knight Riders

Remaining fixtures: MI (H), DC (H)

Two wins will take KKR to 15 points and can go through:

- If RR drops one game and PBKS lose to LSG.

- If PBKS beats LSG and RR drop one, then KKR need stay above Punjab's NRR. If PBKS win their final game by 10 runs, KKR will need a combined winning margin of around 72 runs to stay ahead on NRR.

KKR can go through with 13 points if they beat DC and all the following three results go their way:

- GT beat CSK

- LSG and MI beat RR

- PBKS lose to LSG and trail KKR on NRR.