After a sluggish start to the IPL 2026 season, Chennai Super Kings have surged back into playoff contention, winning three of their final four outings in the tournament so far. With only four matches remaining in the league phase, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s side will be aiming to add eight points from here to secure a place in the next round with relative ease. Still, the race for the top four has stayed fiercely competitive—at this stage, none of the ten franchises are mathematically out of the hunt.
Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru currently occupy the top two positions on the IPL 2026 points table, collecting 13 and 12 points respectively. Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, and Gujarat Titans are also on 12 points each. However, PBKS and RCB have played one fewer game than SRH, RR, and GT, keeping the permutations alive as the season heads toward its closing stretch.
Qualification picture for all 10 teams in IPL 2026
PBKS: The equation is straightforward — they need two victories from their next five matches to reach 17 points, a total that would virtually guarantee qualification. Even a single additional win could potentially be enough, provided their net run rate remains in good shape (currently +0.855).
RCB: Bengaluru’s path looks a little less direct but still very favourable. They require between two and three wins to land in the 16 to 18 point band. Their net run rate stands at a commanding +1.420, giving them a major buffer; in fact, they could even sneak through with as few as 14 points if results elsewhere fall their way.
SRH: Sunrisers Hyderabad need two wins from their remaining four matches to move into the safer 16-point territory. Their batting resources have helped keep their net run rate healthy at +0.644, which could play a decisive role if clubs finish level on points.
RR: Rajasthan Royals also need two wins to reach 16 points, mirroring SRH’s requirement. Their current spell, however, has been uneven, so they must protect their net run rate advantage as they go. At the moment, it sits at +0.510, and maintaining that edge will be crucial against teams chasing them in the standings.
GT: Gujarat Titans are level on points with the teams sitting in the top four, but their net run rate is a concern at -0.147. For GT, the most likely route involves winning at least two of their last four matches by substantial margins—results that would help lift their net run rate and potentially allow them to jump over Rajasthan or Sunrisers.
CSK: Chennai Super Kings have a clear target—winning at least three of their remaining four games to reach 16 points. Their net run rate is positive at +0.151, which could become increasingly valuable if multiple teams end the league stage on similar totals such as 14 or 16.
DC: Delhi Capitals have little room for error. They must win all of their remaining fixtures to get to 16 points. Any slip would force them to depend heavily on other results going in their favour, and their current net run rate is also a stumbling block at -0.949, meaning they will likely need both outcomes and margins to improve their situation.
KKR: Kolkata Knight Riders face the steepest mathematical challenge among the contenders. They need to win all five of their remaining matches to reach 17 points. With a net run rate of -0.539, even four wins—taking them to 15 points—may not be sufficient in a tight top-four race.
MI: Mumbai Indians have a maximum possible points tally of 14. To have any realistic chance, they would need to win every remaining match and also rely on the teams currently on 12 points losing almost all of their future games. Their net run rate is currently -0.649, adding another significant hurdle to their qualification hopes.
LSG: Lucknow Super Giants are virtually eliminated. Even if they win all five matches and finish on 14 points, their net run rate is catastrophically low at -1.076, making qualification extremely unlikely in a ten-team format.
