IPL 2026 Playoff Chances: CSK Still Fighting, MI & LSG Almost Out

The IPL 2026 playoff race is now becoming very interesting. Every match is important because one win or loss can change the points table quickly. Teams like Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are looking strong and are very close to reaching the playoffs. But for teams like Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants, and Kolkata Knight Riders, things are getting difficult with every game.

Normally, teams need around 16 points to safely enter the IPL playoffs. Winning eight matches is usually enough. Sometimes even 14 points can help, but then net run rate and other teams’ results become very important. A little luck is also needed at this stage of the tournament.

Teams with only 12 points are under big pressure now. They must win their remaining matches and also hope other results help them. In IPL 2019, Sunrisers Hyderabad reached the playoffs with 12 points, but that season had only eight teams. In a 10-team IPL, 12 points are mostly not enough to qualify.

Punjab Kings Qualification Chances

Punjab Kings started their IPL 2026 season in brilliant fashion with a seven-match winning streak. The Shreyas Iyer-led side has played fearless cricket and looks set for a playoff spot.

PBKS now need only two wins from their remaining five matches to reach the safe 16-point mark. Looking at their current form, qualification looks very likely unless they suffer a sudden drop in performance.

PBKS Remaining Schedule

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Qualification chances

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have looked like one of the strongest teams in IPL 2026. With six wins from nine matches, RCB are in a very good position to qualify for the playoffs.

RCB now need only two more wins from their remaining five matches to reach the safe 16-point mark. Their impressive net run rate of +1.420 also gives them a big advantage in the playoff race.

Even if RCB finish with 14 points, they could still stay in contention because of their strong NRR. But with the way they are playing right now, they look like strong favourites to finish in the top two.

RCB Remaining IPL 2026 Schedule

Sunrisers Hyderabad ​​​​​​Qualification chances

Sunrisers Hyderabad have made a strong comeback in IPL 2026 after a slow start to the season. SRH lost three of their first four matches, but things changed quickly as they went on a five-match winning streak.

Their momentum was stopped briefly by a defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders, but SRH have still looked like a confident and balanced side. They are now in a strong position in the playoff race with 12 points from 10 matches.

SRH need around two more wins to reach the safe 16-point mark for qualification. Their healthy net run rate also keeps them in the race for a top-two finish this season.

Big matches against Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru could decide where they finish on the points table. If SRH continue their current form, a playoff spot looks very possible.

SRH Remaining IPL 2026 Schedule

Rajasthan Royals ​​​​​​Qualification chances

Rajasthan Royals are still strongly in the IPL 2026 playoff race, but their situation is slightly tricky now. RR have already played 10 matches, which is one more than some of the other top teams.

A top-two finish looks difficult at the moment, but reaching the top four is still very possible. With four matches left, RR will likely need at least three wins to comfortably qualify for the playoffs.

Two wins could still take them to 16 points, but then net run rate may become very important. Anything less than that could make qualification very difficult for them.

One big positive for RR is that all their remaining matches are against teams below them on the points table. If they handle these games well, Rajasthan can stay firmly in the playoff race.

RR Remaining IPL 2026 Schedule

Gujarat Titans ​​​​​​Qualification chances

Gujarat Titans have kept their IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive with back-to-back wins. Even after the recent comeback, GT are still outside the top four and remain under pressure in the race.

A top-two finish looks very difficult from here, but a playoff spot is still possible. With four matches left, GT will likely need at least two more wins to stay strongly in contention.

Reaching 16 points could keep them in the playoff race, but their negative net run rate is a big concern. GT not only need wins but also need to improve their winning margins in the remaining games.

Their upcoming schedule is not easy either, with important matches against strong teams coming up. These next few games could decide whether GT stay alive in the playoff battle or fall behind.

GT Remaining IPL 2026 Schedule

Date	Match	Venue	Time (IST)
Sat, May 9, 2026	RR vs GT	Jaipur	7:30 PM
Tue, May 12, 2026	GT vs SRH	Ahmedabad	7:30 PM
Sat, May 16, 2026	KKR vs GT	Kolkata	7:30 PM
Thu, May 21, 2026	GT vs CSK	Ahmedabad	7:30 PM

Chennai Super Kings ​​​​​​Qualification chances

Chennai Super Kings are still alive in the IPL 2026 playoff race, but their situation has become very difficult now. A top-two finish is almost impossible, and even a top-four spot is hanging by a thread.

CSK currently have 10 points from 10 matches and need to win at least three of their remaining four games to reach the safe 16-point mark. Anything less than that could leave them depending on other results and net run rate.

One positive for CSK is their healthy net run rate, which could help them later in the race. Their recent win against Delhi Capitals with 2.3 overs left also improved their NRR in a big way.

Still, the equation is very clear for Chennai now. They must keep winning from here if they want to stay alive in the playoff battle.

CSK Remaining IPL 2026 Schedule

Date	Match	Venue	Time (IST)
Sun, May 10, 2026	CSK vs LSG	Chennai	3:30 PM
Fri, May 15, 2026	LSG vs CSK	Lucknow	7:30 PM
Mon, May 18, 2026	CSK vs SRH	Chennai	7:30 PM
Thu, May 21, 2026	GT vs CSK	Ahmedabad	7:30 PM

Delhi Capitals​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​Qualification chances

Delhi Capitals are now in a very difficult position in the IPL 2026 playoff race after their loss to Chennai Super Kings. The defeat also pushed DC into a negative net run rate, making their situation even tougher.

The Axar Patel-led side now need to win all their remaining league matches to keep their playoff hopes alive. Even then, they may still depend on other results going in their favour.

DC cannot afford any more mistakes from here. With pressure increasing and tough matches coming up, every game has now become a must-win contest for them.

DC Remaining IPL 2026 Schedule

Date	Match	Venue	Time (IST)
Fri, May 8, 2026	DC vs KKR	Delhi	7:30 PM
Mon, May 11, 2026	PBKS vs DC	Dharamsala	7:30 PM
Sun, May 17, 2026	DC vs RR	Delhi	7:30 PM
Sun, May 24, 2026	KKR vs DC	Kolkata	7:30 PM

Kolkata Knight Riders​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​Qualification chances

Kolkata Knight Riders have had a disappointing IPL 2026 season so far. With only three wins till now, KKR are in a very difficult position in the playoff race.

To stay alive, KKR need to win all their remaining five matches and reach 17 points. Even one more defeat could almost end their playoff hopes completely.

Their current form has not been consistent, and the pressure is now very high on the team. At this stage, qualification looks very unlikely unless they produce a big turnaround in the final matches.

KKR Remaining IPL 2026 Schedule

Date	Match	Venue	Time (IST)
Fri, May 8, 2026	DC vs KKR	Delhi	7:30 PM
Wed, May 13, 2026	RCB vs KKR	Raipur	7:30 PM
Sat, May 16, 2026	KKR vs GT	Kolkata	7:30 PM
Wed, May 20, 2026	KKR vs MI	Kolkata	7:30 PM
Sun, May 24, 2026	KKR vs DC	Kolkata	7:30 PM

Mumbai Indians​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​Qualification chances

Mumbai Indians looked like a strong team on paper before IPL 2026 started, but things have not gone their way this season. With only two wins from nine matches, MI are now almost out of the playoff race.

The Hardik Pandya-led side can only reach a maximum of 14 points even if they win all their remaining games. In most IPL seasons, that is usually not enough to guarantee a playoff spot.

MI have struggled badly with both form and confidence this season. Their poor net run rate has also made the situation worse, leaving very little hope for a comeback.

At this stage, Mumbai’s playoff chances look almost finished unless several results go perfectly in their favour.

MI Remaining IPL 2026 Schedule

Date	Match	Venue	Time (IST)
Sun, May 10, 2026	RCB vs MI	Raipur	7:30 PM
Thu, May 14, 2026	PBKS vs MI	Dharamsala	7:30 PM
Wed, May 20, 2026	KKR vs MI	Kolkata	7:30 PM
Sun, May 24, 2026	MI vs RR	Mumbai	3:30 PM

Lucknow Super Giants ​​​​​​Qualification chances

Lucknow Super Giants are in a situation similar to Mumbai Indians, but they still have one extra match left to play. Unfortunately for LSG, their recent form has been very poor with five straight defeats.

LSG now need to win all their remaining five matches to stay alive in the playoff race. Mathematically, qualification is still possible, but realistically their chances look very slim.

The pressure is very high on the team, and one more loss could officially knock them out of IPL 2026. At the moment, their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread.

LSG Remaining IPL 2026 Schedule

Date	Match	Venue	Time (IST)
Thu, May 7, 2026	LSG vs RCB	Lucknow	7:30 PM
Sun, May 10, 2026	CSK vs LSG	Chennai	3:30 PM
Fri, May 15, 2026	LSG vs CSK	Lucknow	7:30 PM
Tue, May 19, 2026	RR vs LSG	Jaipur	7:30 PM
Sat, May 23, 2026	LSG vs PBKS	Lucknow	7:30 PM

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by mishaalmubarak May 6, 2026