The IPL 2026 regular season has reached its dramatic conclusion, and the race for the championship is now down to four teams. After a thrilling final stretch from May 22 to May 24, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals have secured their places in the playoffs. With the final scheduled for May 31, the next few matches will decide which two sides earn the right to compete for the title.
Sunrisers Hyderabad made one of the loudest statements of the final week on May 22, defeating Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 55 runs. SRH posted a massive 255 for 4, powered by a dominant batting display led by Ishan Kishan. RCB finished at 200 for 4, but despite their strong total, they were unable to keep up with Hyderabad’s explosive scoring rate. The win gave SRH important momentum heading into the knockout stage.
Punjab Kings also ended their campaign on a positive note on May 23, chasing down Lucknow Super Giants’ 196 for 6 with a strong total of 200 for 3. Although Punjab did not make the final four, the victory showed their batting strength and added one more exciting result to the closing days of the league stage.
The regular season wrapped up on May 24 with a final double header that helped lock in the playoff picture. Rajasthan Royals defeated Mumbai Indians by 30 runs after posting 205 for 8 and restricting Mumbai to 175 for 9. In the other match, Delhi Capitals delivered a commanding performance against Kolkata Knight Riders, scoring 203 for 5 before bowling KKR out for 163 to win by 40 runs.
With the standings settled, the first playoff clash will be Qualifier 1 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans on Tuesday, May 26 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. This is the most valuable match of the playoff round because the winner goes directly to the IPL final on May 31. The losing team will still remain alive and move into Qualifier 2, giving both sides a safety net but also a major incentive to finish the job early.
The Eliminator will take place on Wednesday, May 27, featuring Sunrisers Hyderabad against Rajasthan Royals at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh. Unlike Qualifier 1, there is no second chance here. The losing team is eliminated, while the winner moves ahead to Qualifier 2. Both SRH and RR enter this stage with confidence after strong final week victories, making this matchup one of the most intriguing contests of the postseason.
Qualifier 2 is scheduled for Friday, May 29 at the same New Chandigarh venue. It will feature the loser of Qualifier 1 against the winner of the Eliminator. The stakes could not be higher, as the winner will claim the second and final spot in the IPL 2026 final. This match often becomes one of the most intense games of the tournament because one team is fighting back from disappointment, while the other is riding the momentum of survival.
As the playoffs begin, RCB and Gujarat will look to use their top two finish to reach the final quickly, while Hyderabad and Rajasthan must survive the tougher elimination path. With big hitting, pressure bowling and championship dreams on the line, IPL 2026 is entering its most exciting phase. The regular season may be over, but the real drama is just beginning.
