Punjab Kings’ fourth straight defeat — coming at the hands of Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala on Monday — has tightened the race at the top and bottom of the IPL 2026 points table. With several sides packed together on the same number of points, the late-season permutations are beginning to take shape, and a couple of results could quickly change who is realistically in the playoff hunt.
IPL 2026 points table: who is in control and who needs a push
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans find themselves in the most comfortable position, with all three teams sitting on 14 points from 11 matches. That position places them ahead of the rest in the current pecking order.
- Punjab Kings are on 13 points from 11 matches after their latest loss.
- Chennai Super Kings are on 12 points from 11 matches and occupy the fifth spot.
- Rajasthan Royals are also on 12 points from 11 matches, placed sixth.
- Delhi Capitals have 10 points from 12 matches.
- Kolkata Knight Riders are on 9 points from 10 matches.
- All teams will play 14 league matches in the IPL 2026 season.
Playoff math: why 14 points looks close to the mark
As the league has moved into a 10-team format, the threshold for qualification has generally been consistent. In most cases, finishing with 16 points has almost always been enough to book a playoff place as the fourth-best team.
There was an exception in IPL 2024, when RCB reached the postseason with 14 points. With that historical marker in mind, sides currently on 14 points are close to the cut-off, and for the teams sitting there, one additional win would go a long way towards securing a playoff berth.
- Teams on 14 points right now are effectively one win away from near-assured qualification.
- PBKS, CSK, KKR and RR are likely to be aiming for a late surge to close the gap.
- For DC, their chances depend heavily on how other results unfold across the league.
Match report: Delhi Capitals chase down Punjab Kings in Dharamsala
Half-centuries from Axar Patel and David Miller proved pivotal as Delhi Capitals edged Punjab Kings by three wickets in a tense chase on Monday, keeping their slim playoff hopes alive.
Punjab Kings set a target of 210
Punjab Kings were sent in to bat and got off to a solid start. Priyansh Arya struck 56 off 33 balls, while Prabhsimran Singh made 18 as the opening partnership produced 78 runs from 41 deliveries.
After that stand ended, Shreyas Iyer remained steady with 59 not out from 36 balls, and Cooper Connolly contributed 38 off 27. Together, they ensured PBKS built momentum and finished on 210 for five from their 20 overs.
DC recover after a shaky start to reach 216
In reply, Delhi Capitals initially struggled, slipping to 74 for four. However, Axar Patel and David Miller then completely altered the tempo of the innings.
Axar scored 56, while Miller added 51 to stitch the chase back together. Ashutosh Sharma and Madhav Tiwari finished the job, as Delhi reached 216 for seven in 19 overs.
Key bowling and standout figures
- Mitchell Starc took 2 wickets while conceding 57 runs for Delhi.
- Madhav Tiwari also claimed 2 wickets, giving away 40 runs.
- For Punjab Kings, Arshdeep Singh picked up 2 wickets for 21 runs.
- Ben Dwarshuis took 1 wicket for 51 runs.
- Marcus Stoinis took 1 wicket for 44 runs.
Brief scores
- Punjab Kings: 210/5 in 20 overs (Shreyas Iyer 59*; Priyansh Arya 56; Madhav Tiwari 2/40).
- Delhi Capitals: 216/7 in 19 overs (Axar Patel 56; David Miller 51; Arshdeep Singh 2/21).
