How can KKR qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs? Full scenario explained after win against Delhi Capitals

Here's how KKR can still qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs? Full scenario explained after the win against the Delhi Capitals.

Updated on: May 9, 2026, 09:00:52 IST

Written by Vishesh Roy

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If it were mid-April, one wouldn't even entertain the thought of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) having a shot at the qualification race for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 playoffs. The franchise hadn't won a single game in the 19th edition of the T20 tournament, and their only point had come owing to a washout against the Punjab Kings at the Eden Gardens. But what a difference a string of wins can make. The Ajinkya Rahane-led side is finally up and about after winning four matches in a row, and the franchise now has a realistic chance of just making it to the top four.

KKR defeated the Delhi Capitals by eight wickets. (AFP)

The three-time champions on Friday night won by eight wickets against the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, marking their fourth consecutive victory. KKR are currently seventh in the points table with 9 points from 10 matches, just 1 point behind sixth-placed Chennai Super Kings.

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If the previous seasons are anything to go by, then 16 points or more have been enough for a team to qualify for the playoffs. If KKR win all their remaining four matches, the franchise would reach a total of 17 points, which should be enough to secure direct qualification without worrying about net run rate. But if KKR are to lose one game, then net run rate would come into the mix.

Who KKR play next?

However, winning the next four matches won't be easy for KKR, given the teams they are slated to face. The Rahane-led team's next four matches are against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the Gujarat Titans, the Mumbai Indians and the Delhi Capitals.

RCB and Gujarat Titans are ranked higher than KKR in the points table, while Mumbai and Delhi are below them. KKR have a horrible head-to-head record against Mumbai, and the team had earlier lost this season against the team in the away match at the Wankhede Stadium.

What happened in the match against Delhi Capitals?

The contest between KKR and Delhi Capitals saw the former registering an emphatic eight-wicket win with 34 balls to spare. KKR chased down the target of 142 quite easily after Finn Allen notched up his maiden IPL century.

The Delhi Capitals looked lacklustre with both bat and ball, and KKR charged ahead in the contest. At one stage, Delhi seemed set to post in excess of 180, but Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine and Anukul Roy strangled things around in the middle overs phase, and this led to KKR restricting Delhi to just 141/8 in 20 overs.

Delhi then dismissed Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi cheaply, but Cameron Green and Allen put together an unbeaten stand of 116 runs for the third wicket to seal the deal for KKR.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vishesh Roy
Vishesh Roy is a sports journalist with a strong focus on cricket. He began his career at Asian News International (ANI), where he covered a range of high-profile events, including the India Open, Legends Cricket League, the England–India Test series in Ahmedabad in 2021, and the inauguration of the Narendra Modi Stadium. During his tenure at ANI, he also reported extensively on domestic cricket, covering several Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy matches across the country. While cricket remains his primary beat, Vishesh has also reported on tennis, football and WWE. After a stint of over three years at ANI, Vishesh moved to NDTV, where he gained hands-on experience in digital-first journalism, with a particular emphasis on live blogs and real-time news reporting. He joined Hindustan Times in October 2024 and quickly established himself with a series of exclusive interviews and source-driven stories. Ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, Hindustan Times was the first to report that the two-day event would be held in Saudi Arabia. In the early months of his tenure, Vishesh secured interviews with leading cricketers, including Pat Cummins, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rashid Latif. He has also closely tracked the rise of emerging talents such as Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Priyansh Arya by speaking to their current and childhood coaches. His background in on-field reporting has helped Hindustan Times Digital break exclusive stories on major developments, including Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji and Vijay Hazare Trophy, IPL scheduling, and the T20 World Cup controversy involving Bangladesh and Pakistan.Read More

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