New Delhi: IPL 2026 heads toward its final stop. The league stage of the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League runs until May 24. After which the top four teams will contest four playoff games before the final on May 31. The battle for the top four spots remains fiercely competitive.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Punjab Kings (PBKS), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Rajasthan Royals (RR) currently hold the top four positions, with Gujarat Titans (GT) breathing down their necks.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Punjab Kings (PBKS), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Rajasthan Royals (RR) currently hold the top four positions, with Gujarat Titans (GT) breathing down their necks.
Points Table after 50 Matches
The IPL 2026 points table is extremely tight after Match 50. Sunrisers Hyderabad lead the standings with 14 points from 11 games, with a Net Run Rate of +0.737. Punjab Kings sit second with 13 points and an NRR of +0.571.
Below them,Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajasthan Royals, and Gujarat Titans all have six wins
| Pos | Team | M | W | L | NRR | Pts | Last 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SRH | 11 | 7 | 4 | +0.737 | 14 | ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌ ✅ |
| 2 | PBKS | 10 | 6 | 3 | +0.571 | 13 | ✅ ✅ ❌ ❌ ❌ |
| 3 | RCB | 10 | 6 | 4 | +1.234 | 12 | ❌ ✅ ✅ ❌ ❌ |
| 4 | RR | 10 | 6 | 4 | +0.510 | 12 | ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ |
| 5 | GT | 10 | 6 | 4 | -0.147 | 12 | ❌ ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ |
| 6 | CSK | 10 | 5 | 5 | +0.151 | 10 | ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅ ✅ |
| 7 | DC | 10 | 4 | 6 | -0.949 | 8 | ❌ ❌ ❌ ✅ ❌ |
| 8 | KKR | 9 | 3 | 5 | -0.539 | 7 | ❌ ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ |
| 9 | MI | 10 | 3 | 7 | -0.649 | 6 | ✅ ❌ ❌ ❌ ✅ |
| 10 | LSG | 10 | 3 | 7 | -0.934 | 6 | ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌ ✅ |
Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings remain in contention on 10 points with a Net Run Rate of +0.151, but the lower half of the table is now largely out of the playoff race.
At the same time, Delhi Capitals have 8 points, while Kolkata Knight Riders have managed 7 points from 9 matches. Furthermore, both Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants are sitting on 6 points with negative NRRs, making their path to the playoffs increasingly difficult.
Playoff Schedule: Dates & Venues
Qualifier 1 – May 26 – HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala
The Qualifier 1, featuring the top two teams in the standings, will be played on May 26 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. The winner goes directly to the final, while the loser gets a second chance through Qualifier 2.
Eliminator – May 27 – New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh
The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International PCA Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur will host the Eliminator match, where the teams finishing third and fourth will fight in a do-or-die contest to keep their title hopes alive. One team will come to an end right here; there will be no second chance for them.
Qualifier 2 – May 29 – New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh
Two days later, Qualifier 2 will be organized in this same Mullanpur stadium. The loser of Qualifier 1 will face the winner of the Eliminator, and the second finalist’s spot will be on the line.
Final – May 31 – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
The season will conclude with the grand Final on May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad,the world’s largest cricket stadium
The BCCI originally selected Bengaluru to host the final, but later shifted the venue after local requirements failed to meet its established guidelines. Ahmedabad now steps in to host the IPL final for the fourth time, after successfully hosting it in 2022, 2023, and 2025.
what’s Next?
The IPL 2026 league stage will conclude on May 24, and teams will continue battling for the four available playoff spots until the very end. With 20 matches still remaining, several franchises can still alter the standings and completely reshape the playoff race before the top four are confirmed.
Meanwhile, many teams remain firmly in contention, which keeps the playoff battle intensely competitive. However, Chennai Super Kings, with 10 points, still hold an outside chance of qualifying.
To keep their hopes alive, they must win all their remaining matches and also rely on a few favourable results from other teams.
The next two and a half weeks will be some of the most interesting cricket of the entire IPL season.
Amulya Shrivastav is a journalist who loves cricket and enjoys telling stories around it. Her interest in the sport is what led her to choose journalism as a career. She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and writes mainly on sports, while also exploring topics like politics, health, tech, and lifestyle. Her work focuses on simple, engaging storytelling that connects with readers.