With only 11 matches to go in the league phase of IPL 2026, eight teams are still in contention for the four playoff spots, while none have confirmed their place there yet.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Played: 12, Points: 12, NRR: 0.027
Remaining matches: SRH (H), GT (A)
The loss to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) has dented CSK's qualification chances, but they can still get to 16 points if they win their last two matches. In fact, they might even qualify with 14 if Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) lose their remaining matches, and if Delhi Capitals (DC) lose to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who in turn win no more than two of their matches.
If all those results work out, then Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Gujarat Titans (GT) and CSK (on 14) will be the four teams that qualify.
On the other hand, even 16 points may not be enough as four teams can still go past that mark.
Gujarat Titans (GT)
Played: 12, Points: 16, NRR: 0.551
Remaining matches: KKR (A), CSK (H)
On a golden streak of five consecutive wins, GT need one more victory to ensure a top-four finish, and two to make sure they finish in the top two. If they lose both remaining matches, it'll come down to net run-rates. If PBKS, CSK and RR win their remaining matches, then as many as six teams can finish on 16 or more points.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Played: 12, Points: 16, NRR: 1.053
Remaining matches: PBKS (A), SRH (H)
RCB need one win to make sure of qualification, as it's now impossible for four other teams to get to 18. If they lose both matches, they could be eliminated, though, as four other teams - GT, SRH, RR and PBKS - can all finish on more than 16. If they win both games, then RCB are sure to finish in the top two. However, RCB's two remaining matches are both away from home, where they have only won two out of five so far this season.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Played: 12, Points: 14, NRR: 0.331
Remaining matches: CSK (A), RCB (H)
With 14 points from 12 games, SRH will need to win their last two games to make sure they qualify, as four other teams - GT, RCB, RR and PBKS - can finish with more than 16. However, even 14 points could be enough to qualify without NRR concerns if PBKS and RR lose all their remaining matches. In that case, GT, RCB, CSK and SRH will qualify. If PBKS win one match and move to 15, then qualification with 14 points could come down to NRR.
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Played: 12, Points: 13, NRR: 0.355
Remaining matches: RCB (H), LSG (A)
PBKS have lost five matches on the trot and are stuck on 13 points, but amazingly, they might still qualify as the fourth team with 13 points if several other results go their way: GT will need to win their two remaining matches, RR and CSK have to lose all their games, and KKR have to beat DC but lose to Mumbai Indians (MI). Then RCB, GT, SRH and PBKS will qualify as the four teams without NRR coming into play, as five teams will end on 12 points and KKR on 11.
An easier route for PBKS will be if they win their two remaining matches and get to 17. With CSK losing to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), it's now impossible for four other teams to get to 17 or beyond, which means PBKS' fate rests in their hands. If they finish on 15, though, then they will be at the mercy of other results.
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Played: 11, Points: 12, NRR: 0.082
Remaining matches: DC (A), LSG (H), MI (A)
Five losses in their last seven matches means RR's fortunes are definitely on a downswing. The long gaps between matches has also meant that several teams have gone past them on the points table. Just a couple of weeks back, after their ninth game, they were sitting pretty in third place with 12 points (though they had played a game more than the other teams). Now, they have slipped to fifth and are struggling for survival.
As with other teams, qualification on 14 points without NRR remains possible, but only if several results fall in place, including defeats in all remaining matches for PBKS and CSK.
If RR win all three, though, they will qualify for sure. Their three remaining matches are against teams in the bottom four - including the two - MI and LSG - that have already been eliminated, but all of those teams have posted wins in their last games. Also, after an extremely relaxed schedule, it will get frenetic for them as they play DC and LSG over three days (May 17 and 19) at different venues (Delhi and Jaipur).
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Played: 11, Points: 9, NRR: -0.198
Remaining matches: GT (H), MI (H), DC (H)
KKR brought their campaign back to life with four wins on the trot, but the loss against RCB means they can only get to 15 points, which leaves them at the mercy of other results. Given the list of matches remaining, it's possible for six teams - GT, RCB, SRH, PBKS, RR and CSK - to finish on more than 15 points.
There's an extremely remote possibility of them staying in contention with 13 points as well, if the three teams which already have more than 13 - RCB, GT and SRH - win most of their games, and PBKS, RR and CSK lose theirs. Then, KKR and PBKS could be jostling for the last playoff spot with 13 points. KKR's three remaining games are at home, but they have won only one match out of four (including a washout) at Eden Gardens so far this season.
Delhi Capitals (DC)
Played: 12, Points: 10, NRR: -0.993
Remaining matches: RR (H), KKR (A)
The win against PBKS kept DC in the hunt, if only just. The equation for them is simple: win their last two matches by big margins to finish on 14 points, and then hope that several other results fall in place. Their NRR doesn't help their cause, though: at -0.993, it's easily the worst among all teams.
DC play the last game of the league stage - against KKR at Eden Gardens on May 24. If either of those teams is still in contention by the time that game comes around, it will mean we are in for some major surprises over the next nine days.