Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Gujarat Titans (GT), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and Rajasthan Royals (RR) are the four teams that have qualified for the IPL 2026 playoffs.
RCB, GT, and SRH all finished with 18 points from 14 matches, while RR secured the fourth spot with 16 points. The defending champions RCB topped the standings on superior Net Run Rate (NRR), earning a direct shot at the final through Qualifier 1.
Meanwhile, six franchises including MI, CSK, KKR, DC, PBKS, and LSG have been eliminated from the competition. Here is the complete breakdown of qualified teams, the playoff schedule, squads, and broadcast details.
IPL 2026 Qualified Teams At A Glance
Four teams have booked their place in the knockout stage after 70 gruelling league-stage matches. Interestingly, three of the four qualifiers ended on identical points, making NRR the deciding factor for seedings.
| Team | Position | Qualification Match | Key Performers | NRR | Playoff Path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | 1st | Won by 23 runs vs PBKS (Match 61) | Rajat Patidar (C), Virat Kohli (557 runs), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (24 wickets) | +1.065 | Qualifier 1 |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | 2nd | Won by 89 runs vs CSK (Match 66) | Shubman Gill (616 runs), Sai Sudharsan (638 runs), Kagiso Rabada (24 wickets) | +0.695 | Qualifier 1 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | 3rd | Won by 5 wickets vs CSK (Match 63) | Pat Cummins (C), Heinrich Klaasen (606 runs), Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma | +0.350 | Eliminator |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | 4th | Won vs MI (Last League Match) | Riyan Parag (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal (370 runs), Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer | +0.082 | Eliminator |
IPL 2026 Final Points Table (After League Stage)
Here is the complete IPL 2026 points table after all 70 league-stage matches :
| Pos | Team | M | W | L | Pts | NRR | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RCB | 14 | 9 | 5 | 18 | +1.065 | Qualified |
| 2 | GT | 14 | 9 | 5 | 18 | +0.695 | Qualified |
| 3 | SRH | 14 | 9 | 5 | 18 | +0.350 | Qualified |
| 4 | RR | 14 | 8 | 6 | 16 | +0.082 | Qualified |
| 5 | PBKS | 14 | 7 | 6 | 15 | +0.227 | Eliminated |
| 6 | DC | 14 | 7 | 7 | 14 | +0.055 | Eliminated |
| 7 | KKR | 14 | 7 | 7 | 14 | -0.120 | Eliminated |
| 8 | CSK | 14 | 6 | 8 | 12 | -0.345 | Eliminated |
| 9 | MI | 14 | 5 | 9 | 10 | -0.504 | Eliminated |
| 10 | LSG | 14 | 4 | 10 | 8 | -0.780 | Eliminated |
Three teams finishing on 18 points is noteworthy. Historically, 16 points has been the safe threshold for qualification. In IPL 2024, RCB famously qualified with just 14 points based on superior NRR.
IPL 2026 Playoff Schedule: Dates, Venues and Fixtures
The BCCI confirmed the playoff schedule across three venues. Qualifier 1 heads to the hills, while the final returns to the world’s largest cricket stadium (Source: iplt20.com).
| Match | Teams | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifier 1 | RCB vs GT | May 26, 2026 | HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala |
| Eliminator | SRH vs RR | May 27, 2026 | International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh |
| Qualifier 2 | TBD vs TBD | May 29, 2026 | International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh |
| Final | TBD vs TBD | May 31, 2026 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
All playoff matches are scheduled to start at 7:30 PM IST. The toss takes place 30 minutes before the match.
How the IPL Playoff Format Works
The IPL playoff format gives a clear advantage to the top two teams. In Qualifier 1, the winner goes directly to the final. The loser gets a second chance in Qualifier 2.
The Eliminator is a straight knockout between the 3rd and 4th placed teams. The winner then plays the Qualifier 1 loser in Qualifier 2 for the remaining spot in the final.
This format means RCB and GT have two shots at reaching the final, while SRH and RR need to win every game from here. No pressure, right?
IPL 2026 Qualified Teams: Full Squads
Here are the complete squads for all four playoff-bound teams.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Squad
Captain: Rajat Patidar | Coach: Andy Flower
- Batters: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt (WK), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jordan Cox (WK), Tim David
- All-Rounders: Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Venkatesh Iyer, Kanishk Chouhan
- Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Nuwan Thushara, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar, Jacob Duffy, Abhinandan Singh
Gujarat Titans (GT) Squad
Captain: Shubman Gill | Coach: Ashish Nehra
- Batters: Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (WK), Anuj Rawat (WK), Kumar Kushagra (WK), Glenn Phillips
- All-Rounders: Rashid Khan, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, Nishant Sindhu, Arshad Khan, Jason Holder
- Bowlers: Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Gurnoor Brar, Manav Suthar, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Luke Wood, Ashok Sharma
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) Squad
Captain: Pat Cummins | Coach: Daniel Vettori
- Batters: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy
- All-Rounders: Kamindu Mendis, Liam Livingstone, Jack Edwards
- Bowlers: Pat Cummins, Harshal Patel, Brydon Carse, Jaydev Unadkat, Shivam Mavi, Harsh Dubey, Zeeshan Ansari, Eshan Malinga
Rajasthan Royals (RR) Squad
Captain: Riyan Parag | Coach: Kumar Sangakkara
- Batters: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Shubham Dubey, Donovan Ferreira
- All-Rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Dasun Shanaka, Sam Curran (injured)
- Bowlers: Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Nandre Burger, Kwena Maphaka, Ravi Bishnoi, Adam Milne, Kuldeep Sen, Sandeep Sharma, Brijesh Sharma
Key Battles to Watch in IPL 2026 Playoffs
Here are the Battles of Qualifier and Eliminator :
Qualifier 1: RCB vs GT
This is a clash of the two most consistent teams this season. Virat Kohli vs Kagiso Rabada will be a contest every cricket fan wants to see. Meanwhile, the battle between Bhuvneshwar Kumar‘s swing and Shubman Gill‘s elegance could set the tone in the powerplay.
Both teams finished on 18 points, so there is practically nothing separating them. Dharamsala’s seam-friendly conditions could give RCB’s pace attack a slight edge. However, GT’s Rashid Khan thrives on pressure, and that makes this fixture impossible to predict.
Eliminator: SRH vs RR
SRH’s power-hitting against RR’s Jofra Archer is the headline matchup. Additionally, Ravindra Jadeja‘s experience could prove invaluable for a young RR side in a knockout scenario.
SRH’s top order of Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Heinrich Klaasen can destroy any bowling attack on their day. However, RR’s ability to fight with their backs against the wall, as demonstrated on the final league day, makes them dangerous underdogs.
Where to Watch IPL 2026 Playoffs: Live Streaming And Broadcast Details
Cricket fans in India and around the world have multiple options to catch the IPL 2026 playoffs live.
| Region | Platform | Details |
|---|---|---|
| India (TV) | Star Sports Network | Star Sports 1, 1 Hindi, 1 Tamil, 1 Telugu, 1 Kannada + HD |
| India (Streaming) | JioHotstar | Paid plans from Rs 79/month |
| UK & Ireland | Sky Sports | Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Go app |
| USA & Canada | Willow TV | DISH, Sling TV, DirecTV, Fubo |
| Australia | Fox Sports / Kayo | Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go |
| Rest of World | YuppTV / ICC.tv | 70+ countries covered |
In India, Star Sports Network holds the TV broadcast rights across multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. For digital streaming, JioHotstar (formed after the merger of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar) is the exclusive platform.
The free streaming option that existed during IPL 2023 and 2024 is no longer available. JioHotstar plans start at Rs 79 per month for mobile-only access.
IPL Playoff Qualification: Historical Trends
Looking at historical data, the 16-point mark has almost always guaranteed a playoff spot. In the 10-team, 70-match format used since IPL 2022, the cutoff was 16 points in 2022, 2023, and 2025.
The sole exception was IPL 2024, where RCB qualified with just 14 points thanks to a superior NRR. That season, four teams finished on 14 points, and NRR decided the final two qualifiers.
In IPL 2026, the cutoff has returned to 16 points. RR made it with exactly that, while PBKS fell agonizingly short at 15 despite winning seven matches.
Final Verdict: RCB & GT To Play Qualifier 1 And SRH & RR Battle In Eliminator
RCB, GT, SRH, and RR have earned their spots in the IPL 2026 playoffs through consistent performances across the league stage. The defending champions RCB enter as table-toppers, but the knockout format can throw up surprises.
The playoffs kick off on May 26 in Dharamsala and conclude with the final at Ahmedabad on May 31. With four strong, hungry teams and a format that rewards both consistency and nerve, the next six days promise edge-of-the-seat cricket.
