Mumbai: The race to the playoffs in the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League is finally over, with the Rajasthan Royals securing the fourth and final playoff berth after a commanding 30-run victory over the Mumbai Indians at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium.
Chasing a place in the knockout stage, Rajasthan Royals delivered under pressure in their final league fixture. Batting first, RR posted a strong total of 205 runs, setting Mumbai a challenging target of 206.
Despite playing at home, the Mumbai Indians failed to keep pace with the required run rate and eventually fell short, ending their campaign on a disappointing note.
The result officially confirmed Rajasthan Royals as the fourth team in the playoffs with 16 points. Their qualification also brought heartbreak for the Punjab Kings and the Kolkata Knight Riders, both of whom were knocked out of the tournament after RR’s victory.
4️⃣ teams. 1️⃣ winner
All roads lead to the ultimate glory 🏆#TATAIPL | #TheFinalLeap pic.twitter.com/waI2u61Q4t
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 24, 2026
RCB Finish on Top
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore had already booked their place in the playoffs and finished at the top of the points table.
Gujarat Titans secured second place, while Sunrisers Hyderabad ended the league stage in third position. Rajasthan Royals completed the top four lineup.
With the playoff teams now confirmed, attention shifts to the knockout stage, where every match will decide the path to the IPL 2026 title.
Playoff Schedule Announced
Qualifier 1 will see the Royal Challengers Bangalore take on the Gujarat Titans on May 26 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium. The winner will earn direct entry into the final, while the losing side will get another chance in Qualifier 2.
The Eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals is scheduled for May 27 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium.
The winning team from that clash will move into Qualifier 2 on May 29 at the same venue.
The grand finale of IPL 2026 will be played on May 31 at the massive Narendra Modi Stadium, where the two remaining teams will battle for the championship crown.
We are officially in the endgame now! 🎬
1️⃣0️⃣ started the race, but only 4️⃣ survived the carnage 🏆#TATAIPL | #TheFinalLeap pic.twitter.com/k4kq8R5WbL
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 24, 2026
IPL 2026 Playoffs Fixtures
- Qualifier 1 — May 26: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat Titans, Dharamshala
- Eliminator — May 27: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals, New Chandigarh
- Qualifier 2 — May 29: Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator, New Chandigarh
- Final — May 31: Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2, Ahmedabad
