IPL 2026 playoffs schedule set after RR's final push: RCB face GT for finale ticket, SRH meet Royals in Eliminator

Rajasthan Royals secured a playoff spot in IPL 2026 with a decisive win, finishing fourth in the league.

Updated on: May 25, 2026, 06:14:46 IST

Written by Probuddha Bhattacharjee

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Rajasthan Royals forced their way into the IPL 2026 playoffs with a final league-stage win that settled the last open question in the tournament. RR’s victory took them to 16 points, pushed them clear of Punjab Kings, and completed the four-team knockout lineup.

Rajasthan Royals have booked the final spot in the playoffs of IPL 2026. (Raju Shinde)

The result left Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals as the four playoff teams. PBKS finished fifth on 15 points despite staying alive till the end, while Kolkata Knight Riders’ outside chance also disappeared once RR crossed the line.

RR seal fourth spot as playoff race ends

RR entered their last league game knowing the equation was clean. A win would take them through. Anything less would have dragged the race into net run rate calculations and left PBKS and KKR with hope.

They avoided that scramble by winning their final match and finishing with eight wins from 14 games. That gave them fourth place and set up an Eliminator against SRH.

RCB finished first with 18 points and the best net run rate among the top three. GT also ended on 18 points, but their NRR kept them second. SRH had the same 18-point tally, yet finished third because their NRR was lower than RCB and GT.

That final table created a harsh split. RCB and GT earned the safety of Qualifier 1, where even the losing team stays alive. SRH, despite nine league wins, must now play a knockout match immediately. RR enter the same game with momentum after saving their campaign at the last gate.

Also Read: KKR vs DC LIVE Score IPL 2026: KKR and DC fight for pride after RR seal their spot in playoffs; good start for Capitals

IPL 2026 playoff schedule

Qualifier 1 will be played on Tuesday, May 26, at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. RCB will face GT in that game.

The winner of Qualifier 1 will go straight into the IPL 2026 final. The loser will not be eliminated and will get another chance in Qualifier 2.

The Eliminator will be played on Wednesday, May 27, at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium in Mullanpur. SRH will face RR in that game.

That game has no cushion. The winner will move to Qualifier 2. The loser’s season will end.

Qualifier 2 will be played on Friday, May 29, also in Mullanpur. It will feature the loser of RCB vs GT against the winner of SRH vs RR.

The final will be played on Sunday, May 31, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

RCB and GT now have the cleanest route to the title. One win takes either team directly to Ahmedabad. SRH and RR have the longer road. They must win the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 before reaching the final.

For RR, though, the playoffs have already started in spirit. Their last league game was a survival test. They passed it. Now the tournament becomes pure knockout cricket.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Probuddha Bhattacharjee
Probuddha Bhattacharjee is a sports writer and analyst with expertise spanning cricket, football, and multi-sport events, with a strong emphasis on data-driven journalism and tactical storytelling. He currently focuses on international cricket, the Indian Premier League, global tournaments, and emerging trends shaping modern sport, blending advanced statistics with strong narrative context to explain performance, strategy, and decision-making. His work aims to bridge the gap between numbers and storytelling, helping readers understand not just what happened on the field, but the tactical and structural reasons behind it. Trained in data journalism through the Google News Initiative (GNI) Data Journalism Lab, Probuddha works extensively with ball-by-ball datasets, performance metrics, and trend-based modelling to produce evidence-backed reports, explainers, and long-form features. His analytical approach focuses not only on outcomes but also on process—selection strategies, phase-wise tactics, workload management, and the influence of preparation and planning on match results. He is particularly interested in how statistical patterns reshape conventional cricketing narratives and provide clearer tactical insight for modern audiences. Beyond cricket, Probuddha has written analytical and news-driven pieces on football and other major sporting events, with a growing interest in sports governance, scheduling dynamics, and the economics of elite competitions. He also tracks how rule changes, franchise structures, and broadcast pressures influence the evolution of contemporary sport. He has previously contributed to platforms such as OneCricket, Sportskeeda, and CrickTracker, and continues to specialise in analytical storytelling, live coverage, and audience-focused reporting. His work prioritises clarity, context, and credibility, while consistently exploring innovative ways to present data through accessible narratives and structured match analysis.Read More

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