IPL 2026: Full list of teams that qualified for the playoffs stage originally appeared on Cricket News.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- A century from Virat Kohli helped RCB climb to the top of the table with 16 points, ahead of GT on Net Run Rate.
- Five-time champions MI, along with LSG have been officially knocked out of the IPL 2026 playoff race.
- The playoffs will be held in Dharamsala and New Chandigarh, with the grand finale in Ahmedabad on May 31.
IPL 2026 playoffs race: Which teams have qualified for the playoffs?
No team has officially qualified for the playoffs in IPL 2026 yet.
Though Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans are in a prime position to secure their spots after reaching the 16-point mark.
Behind them, the fight for the remaining places is getting tighter. Sunrisers Hyderabad are currently third with 14 points, while Punjab Kings, on 13 points, are fourth.
Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, both on 12 points, are still firmly in the race and pushing for a place in the top four.
The latest defeat to RCB was a major setback for Kolkata Knight Riders, who now find themselves on the brink of elimination alongside Delhi Capitals. Both teams need results to go their way and a strong boost in Net Run Rate to stay in contention.
Meanwhile, the Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants have already been officially knocked out of the playoff race.
IPL 2026 Points Table: Latest updated standings
| Pos | Team | Played | Won | Lost | NR | Nrr | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | +1.053 | 16 |
| 2 | Gujarat Titans | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | +0.551 | 16 |
| 3 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | +0.331 | 14 |
| 4 | Punjab Kings | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | +0.428 | 13 |
| 5 | Chennai Super Kings | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | +0.185 | 12 |
| 6 | Rajasthan Royals | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | +0.082 | 12 |
| 7 | Delhi Capitals | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | -0.993 | 12 |
| 8 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 11 | 4 | 6 | 1 | -0.198 | 9 |
| 9 | Mumbai Indians (E) | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | -0.585 | 6 |
| 10 | Lucknow Super Giants (E) | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | -0.907 | 6 |
(After match 57, RCB vs KKR)
IPL 2026 Playoffs Schedule: Dates and Venues
With the league stage nearing its end, the focus will soon shift to the IPL 2026 playoffs. The knockout matches are set to be played in Dharamsala and New Chandigarh, before the tournament concludes with the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
| Match | Date | Venue | Time (IST) |
| Qualifier 1 | Tue, May 26 | HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala | 7:30 PM |
| Eliminator | Wed, May 27 | Mullanpur Stadium, New Chandigarh | 7:30 PM |
| Qualifier 2 | Fri, May 29 | Mullanpur Stadium, New Chandigarh | 7:30 PM |
| Final | Sun, May 31 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
Which teams will play Qualifier 1?
Qualifier 1 will be played between the teams that finish first and second in the IPL 2026 points table. The winner of the match will qualify directly for the final, while the losing team will still have another chance to reach the title clash through Qualifier 2.
Which teams will play the Eliminator?
The Eliminator will feature the third and fourth-placed teams in the league standings. It is a knockout match, meaning the losing team will be eliminated from the tournament, while the winner will advance to Qualifier 2.
Which teams will play Qualifier 2?
Qualifier 2 will be played between the loser of Qualifier 1 and the winner of the Eliminator. The winner of this match will secure the second spot in the IPL 2026 final.
MORE:Which teams can no longer qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs?
Teams with the most playoffs appearances in IPL history
Consistency has always been one of the biggest measures of success in the IPL, and the teams with the most playoff appearances have often been the strongest sides in the tournament’s history.
Chennai Super Kings lead the list with the most playoff qualifications, having missed the top four only a few times in their IPL journey. The Mumbai Indians are next with 11 playoff appearances, although their early exit in 2026 means that number will not increase this season.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who won the IPL title in 2025, have also reached double digits in playoff qualifications and continue to remain regular contenders in the league.
| Team | Playoffs Appearances | Titles Won |
| Chennai Super Kings | 12 times | 5 |
| Mumbai Indians | 11 times | 5 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 10 times | 1 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 08 times | 3 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 07 times | 2 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 06 times | 1 |
| Delhi Capitals | 06 times | – |
| Gujarat Titans | 03 times | 1 |
| Punjab Kings | 03 times | – |
| Lucknow Super Gaints | 02 times | – |
MORE:IPL playoff eliminations: Which team crashed out first in every IPL season?
IPL playoffs qualifiers: Season-by-season list (2008–2025)
The history of the IPL playoffs has seen different teams dominate different eras of the tournament. In the early years, teams like Rajasthan Royals and Deccan Chargers made a strong impact before Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians went on to dominate the league for over a decade.
In recent seasons, newer teams like Gujarat Titans have quickly established themselves as strong contenders, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s resurgence has added more competition to the playoff race and title battle.
| Season | Teams Qualified for Playoffs | Winner |
| 2025 | RCB, PBKS, GT, MI | RCB |
| 2024 | KKR, SRH, RR, RCB | KKR |
| 2023 | GT, CSK, LSG, MI | CSK |
| 2022 | GT, RR, LSG, RCB | GT |
| 2021 | DC, CSK, RCB, KKR | CSK |
| 2020 | MI, DC, SRH, RCB | MI |
| 2019 | MI, CSK, DC, SRH | MI |
| 2018 | SRH, CSK, KKR, RR | CSK |
| 2017 | MI, RPS, SRH, KKR | MI |
| 2016 | GL, RCB, SRH, KKR | SRH |
| 2015 | CSK, MI, RCB, RR | MI |
| 2014 | KXIP, KKR, CSK, MI | KKR |
| 2013 | CSK, MI, RR, SRH | MI |
| 2012 | DD, KKR, MI, CSK | KKR |
| 2011 | RCB, CSK, MI, KKR | CSK |
| 2010 | MI, DEC, CSK, RCB | CSK |
| 2009 | DD, CSK, RCB, DEC | DCH |
| 2008 | RR, KXIP, CSK, DD | RR |
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