Kolkata Knight Riders beat Mumbai Indians by four wickets on Wednesday, adding fresh heat to the IPL 2026 playoffs race. With Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad already through, the tournament is down to a single remaining slot in the top four. Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad are all still in the mix, while Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings remain in the conversation but only with slim mathematical prospects.
Rajasthan Royals must win their final league game against Mumbai Indians to lock in qualification. They currently occupy fourth place on the points table, with 14 points from 13 matches. If RR defeat MI, their spot in the playoffs will be confirmed regardless of what happens in the other games. However, should Rajasthan lose, the equation shifts: Punjab Kings would need to beat Lucknow Super Giants, and Kolkata Knight Riders would have to get the better of Delhi Capitals. In the event that both PBKS and KKR win, both sides would end up level on 15 points, making net run rate the deciding factor.
Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, are both required to win their respective last fixtures and then also rely on other results going their way. For both franchises to progress, Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders would need to suffer heavy defeats, and CSK and DC would also have to secure wins by large margins to boost their net run rate.
In the match itself, Kolkata chased 148 and reached the target with 148/6 in 18.5 overs, sealing a four-wicket win over MI in Kolkata. Manish Pandey played a key role, scoring 45 off 33 balls as KKR tightened the chase when it mattered most. For Mumbai Indians, Corbin Bosch made a major impact with three wickets.
Earlier, KKR’s bowling kept Mumbai under pressure after an initial phase in which Cameron Green, Saurabh Dubey and Kartik Tyagi combined for two-wicket strikes. That burst of wickets helped restrict MI to 147/8 from 20 overs.
After the game, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane said the side’s belief had been central to their late revival. “I think the belief we had after six matches came from a couple of strong conversations within the group. We were playing good cricket, but in this format it’s all about winning those crucial moments. After that match, during the break, the win was really important—it shifted the mood, and then everyone started believing,” Rahane explained.
Rahane also singled out the support staff for special praise. “Confidence was already there, but I believe the credit should go to all the support staff. The environment becomes tough when you’ve lost six games and then you go into the break—it’s really challenging. But credit to everyone: we kept a positive atmosphere. Preparation has been fantastic, and that’s why,” he added.
