 2026 playoffs has reached a fever pitch following Sunday's action-packed double-header){kind=link}
The race for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 playoffs has reached a fever pitch following Sunday’s action-packed double-header. In Match 62, Delhi Capitals (DC) pulled off a spectacular victory against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Earlier in the day, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) dominated Punjab Kings (PBKS) to become the very first team to secure a playoff berth this year.
Delhi Capitals Edge Past Rajasthan Royals in High-Scoring Thriller
Delhi Capitals kept their postseason dreams alive with a clinical chase against Rajasthan. Facing a challenging target of 194 runs, DC’s batting lineup paced the innings beautifully. Consequently, the match went down to the final over, where Ashutosh Sharma finished the game in style by smashing a massive six.
This crucial victory marks Delhi’s sixth win of the tournament. Thanks to this performance, DC now has 12 points from 13 games. They successfully moved up from eighth to seventh place on the leaderboard, keeping themselves mathematically alive in the tournament.
Meanwhile, this loss became a major setback for the Rajasthan Royals. Led on the day by Riyan Parag, RR missed a golden opportunity to break into the coveted top four positions. As a result, Rajasthan stays in fifth place with 12 points from 12 games, holding a net run rate (NRR) of +0.027.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Become First Team to Qualify
Earlier on Sunday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru put on a masterclass in Dharamshala. They defeated Punjab Kings by 23 runs in a high-stakes encounter. Therefore, RCB officially became the first team to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs.
Currently, Bengaluru sits comfortably at the top of the points table. They have accumulated 18 points from 13 matches, boasting an impressive record of nine wins and only four losses.
On the other hand, Punjab Kings are in deep trouble. This defeat marks their sixth consecutive loss in the tournament. Although PBKS managed to hold onto the fourth spot for now, their playoff chances have taken a severe hit. They currently have 13 points from 13 games with six wins, six losses, and one no-result match.
How the Rest of the Teams Stand
Behind RCB, Gujarat Titans (GT) occupy the second position with 16 points from 13 games. Even though Kolkata Knight Riders recently snapped their five-match winning streak, GT remains in a very safe position with a healthy NRR of +0.400.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are also well-placed in third place. They have 14 points from 12 matches, alongside a strong net run rate of +0.331.
The middle of the table is incredibly crowded. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) sit in sixth place with 12 points from 12 games. Surprisingly, they share the exact same points and NRR (+0.027) as Rajasthan Royals. Following closely behind are Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in eighth place with 11 points.
Unfortunately, the tournament has already ended for two franchises. Mumbai Indians (MI) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have both been mathematically eliminated from the playoff race. Both teams have earned only 8 points so far, anchoring the bottom of the table.
Complete IPL 2026 Points Table After Match 62
| Position | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | No Result | Points | Net Run Rate (NRR) |
| 1 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Q) | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 18 | +1.065 |
| 2 | Gujarat Titans | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 16 | +0.400 |
| 3 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 14 | +0.331 |
| 4 | Punjab Kings | 13 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 13 | +0.227 |
| 5 | Rajasthan Royals | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | +0.027 |
| 6 | Chennai Super Kings | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | +0.027 |
| 7 | Delhi Capitals | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 12 | -0.871 |
| 8 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 11 | -0.038 |
| 9 | Mumbai Indians (E) | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 8 | -0.504 |
| 10 | Lucknow Super Giants (E) | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 8 | -0.701 |
(Q) – Qualified for Playoffs, (E) – Eliminated from Playoff Race