The IPL league phase is now complete, and that means the usual end-of-season headaches—double-headers, points-table reshuffles and net run-rate calculations—are finally behind us. What remains is a straightforward sprint to the business end: four matches, four teams, and everything decided by a handful of moments rather than weeks of permutations. Looking back at the last pair of league games? Here’s a quick, high-speed refresh of what mattered most across the IPL universe.
In the headline clash, Rajasthan Royals got their day right with bat and ball as they accounted for Mumbai Indians, with the result moving RR into fourth place and tightening the race for the top four. Meanwhile, KL Rahul produced his sixth fifty of the season, and the impact of that innings proved decisive as the match swung away from the chasing side. In another late twist, Kuldeep Yadav came close to something special—nearly producing a hat-trick—but even without that, KKR’s fortunes were far from finished. They eventually wrapped up their game with a win, ending with a five-match sequence that brought them into the closing stages with confidence.
Rajasthan Royals then sealed their spot in the playoffs, slipping into the top four by pushing Punjab Kings out of contention. The late confirmation also put an end to lingering uncertainty about who would be playing in the final four. For Punjab Kings, a streak-breaking victory over Lucknow Super Giants was not enough to secure qualification, as the margin came down to a single-point difference. That same swing also extinguished KKR’s faint hopes very early—about 22 deliveries into their chase—when the game moved beyond their reach.
Archer was at the centre of the standout performances and was handed the “Double Trouble” award for turning into the kind of all-round match-winner that can decide a season-defining day. He first backed his quality with his best top score in IPL cricket, then carried that momentum into Test lengths and managed to strike two batters out of the leading three, with another wicket coming later as well. For fantasy managers, that’s the sort of output that can feel like a jackpot—one player delivering across disciplines when it counts most.
There was also a “haste makes waste” nod for wicketkeeper Abhishek Porel, whose moment of rushing—celebrating before properly securing the catch—cost Kuldeep Yadav the chance to complete a hat-trick. Manish Pandey, meanwhile, earned “Marathon Man” recognition for his steady, long-lasting presence in the league. He finally reached the 4,000-run milestone, arriving at the mark in 164 innings, making him the third slowest to hit that figure in IPL history. For context, his 3,000th run came six years earlier, underlining just how gradual—yet enduring—his journey has been.
With playoffs now confirmed and the heartbreak settled, Punjab Kings were given the “Ultimate Bungle” award for a remarkable contrast: despite remaining unbeaten through seven matches, they still somehow missed out on a top-four finish. It was a genuinely strange story—an illustration of how quickly momentum can flip in T20 cricket. Mumbai Indians received “Cheap Thrills” for keeping their net run-rate just above Lucknow Super Giants, preventing a last-place finish at number 10. Still, the award carried a bittersweet edge: it disrupted what could have been an eerily patterned points-table history. Their previous five league standings before this season had been 10th, 4th, 10th, 4th, and then—after another near-miss—they managed to avoid the worst-case scenario.
KKR’s season did include a remarkable recovery, but the final game told a different story once qualification hopes were officially gone. With that pressure removed, lapses became visible. They conceded too many runs in the middle overs, dropped three catches—an unusually high number for a team that usually tightens quickly—and the innings swung from 128 for 3 to a total of 163 all out. The result left them finishing seventh, after a campaign that had already swung wildly like a seesaw.
There was plenty to unpack from the dressing rooms as well. Ajinkya Rahane said he never once considered backing away from the role of captain during KKR’s early struggles. “I’m never one to back down, those thoughts never came to me,” he explained, adding that he believes SRH look particularly strong. His view was that when SRH’s top three batters score heavily, the side becomes extremely difficult to stop. Axar Patel, for his part, made it clear who he’s backing in the playoffs, praising the athleticism of the player he supports. He recalled seeing him run from long-on to long-on and still return to bowl 140-kph yorkers—an image that captured both work rate and pace.
Lungi Ngidi also shared a brief but telling reaction to match planning, saying he was surprised by how early he had to bat. He explained that because of the impact substitute rule, he hardly gets a chance to bat, so when the coach told him to put the pads on, it caught him off guard. Jofra Archer’s contribution understandably drew attention too, but he wasn’t the only one surprised by events. Rajasthan captain Riyan Parag stated bluntly that he was not fit, saying he was not meant to play and had not expected to feature in another game either. Despite that, he clarified that he would not be missing the Eliminator.
A stat worth noting: in IPL 2026, there was not a single instance across 14 innings where both KKR openers survived the powerplay. It’s a trend that helps explain how often their starts were forced to reset early, even when the middle overs eventually produced better moments.
In the gossip column, the focus turned to Lucknow Super Giants and the possible direction they may take after a disappointing campaign. The biggest storyline is the suggestion of a captaincy shift, with Tom Moody openly indicating that leadership will be a “serious consideration,” hinting at a reset at the top. Whether the current skipper is willing—or asked—to move on remains to be seen.
Looking ahead to the schedule, it’s a rare night without IPL action. The next match is set for tomorrow, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Gujarat Titans in the first qualifier, a game that offers a direct route to the final. And if you’re planning for tonight’s viewing, there’s a playful “reckless prediction” floating around: you turn the TV on at 7:30 pm IST expecting something fresh, only to end up watching re-runs from April—when Punjab Kings were considered favourites to lift the trophy.
