IPL 2026 has been a splendid season with highs and lows for each team to a point where till the last day three teams were fighting for the final fourth spot for qualification. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, and Sunrisers Hyderabad all finished with 18 points from 14 matches. Rajasthan Royals became the fourth team to secure IPL 2026 playoffs qualification by defeating Mumbai Indians as Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders couldn’t make way.
RCB and GT have been dominating the entire season and as usual have got the Top two spot and thus will get two chances to reach the finals. The one team that loses will play the Qualifier 2 with the winner of the third and fourth spot team that is Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. RR reached their first playoff under the captainship of Riyan Parag after fumbling in a few matches in the second half of IPL, they finally were way ahead of the other teams. Sunrisers Hyderabad on the other hand had an amazing comeback after initially having a low season and making it to the playoffs.
IPL 2026 Playoffs Schedule : Dates, Venues & Timing
|
Match |
Date |
Venue |
Time |
|
Qualifier 1: RCB vs GT |
May 26, Tuesday |
HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala |
7:30 pm (IST) |
|
Eliminator : RR vs SRH |
May 27, Wednesday |
Mullanpur Stadium,Chandigarh |
7:30 pm (IST) |
|
Qualifier 2 : TBD |
May 29, Friday |
Mullanpur Stadium,Chandigarh |
7:30 pm (IST) |
|
Final : TBD |
May 31, Sunday |
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
7:30 pm (IST) |
Qualifier 1: RCB vs GT
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face the Gujarat Titans on May 26 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. The winner advances directly to the final, while the loser drops to Qualifier 2, where they will play with the winner of the Eliminator. Defending champions RCB will be aiming to reach their second consecutive final and join an elite club with the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.
Eliminator: RR vs SRH
Sunrisers Hyderabad will play Rajasthan Royals on May 27 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. The loser is knocked out, while the winner advances to Qualifier 2.
Qualifier 2
The loser of Qualifier 1 will face the winner of the Eliminator on May 29 at Mulanpur Stadium. The winner of this match will secure the second spot in the IPL 2026 final.
Final
The winner of Qualifier 1 will face the winner of Qualifier 2 in the championship match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31.
