Rajasthan Royals confirmed their place in the IPL 2026 playoffs after a crucial victory over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. The win helped Rajasthan secure fourth place in the points table and officially ended the playoff hopes of Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders.
With this result, Rajasthan Royals finished the league stage with 16 points. Punjab Kings concluded their campaign with 15 points, while Kolkata Knight Riders remained on 13 points with only one league match left to play. Even if KKR win their final game against Delhi Capitals, they can only reach a maximum of 15 points, which is not enough to overtake Rajasthan.
Rajasthan Royals now join Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 playoffs.
IPL 2026 Playoff Schedule Confirmed
The playoff stage will begin with Qualifier 1 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans in Dharamsala on May 26. The winner of that match will directly advance to the IPL 2026 final, scheduled to be played in Ahmedabad on May 31.
The losing team from Qualifier 1 will get another opportunity to reach the final through Qualifier 2.
Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals, who finished third and fourth respectively in the league standings, will face each other in the Eliminator on May 27 in New Chandigarh. The losing side in the Eliminator will be knocked out of the tournament, while the winner will progress to Qualifier 2 on May 29.
Qualifier 2 will be played between the winner of the Eliminator and the loser of Qualifier 1. The winning team from that match will advance to the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad.
Rajasthan Royals Hold Nerve in Must-Win Match
Rajasthan Royals delivered a composed performance under pressure against Mumbai Indians. The team entered the match knowing that a victory would guarantee qualification without depending on other results.
Their players responded strongly in both batting and bowling departments, ensuring they stayed ahead in the playoff race during the final stages of the league campaign.
The qualification marks an important achievement for Rajasthan Royals, who showed consistency throughout the season and managed to secure crucial wins at key moments.
Disappointing Season for Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians finished near the bottom of the points table after managing only four wins from 14 matches this season. The five-time champions struggled to build momentum during the tournament and were unable to recover from a series of inconsistent performances.
Lucknow Super Giants also endured a difficult campaign and finished at the bottom of the table with a similar record.
IPL 2026 Playoff Teams
The four teams qualified for the IPL 2026 playoffs are:
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- Gujarat Titans
- Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Rajasthan Royals
Fans can now look forward to an exciting playoff stage as the battle for the IPL 2026 title moves into its final phase.
