The 70-match stage of the league Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 the playoff battle is officially over, setting the stage for the promises. After nearly two months of relentless cricket, dramatic finishes, individual brilliance and intense competition, four teams emerged as genuine title contenders. The defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Gujarat Titans (GT), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)and Rajasthan Royals (RR) will now fight for the final prize at the business end of the tournament.
RCB, GT and SRH all finished the league stage with 18 points each, making Net Run Rate the deciding factor in deciding the top two spots. RCB’s dominant performances in crucial games helped them to the top spot, while Gujarat Titans finished second after another remarkable consistent campaign. Sunrisers Hyderabad narrowly missed out on the top two despite playing their strongest cricket of the season. Rajasthan Royals booked their place in the final play-offs by 16 points after a dramatic late surge that resulted in a convincing win at the Wankhede Stadium.
Qualifier 1: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans
This is the heavyweight matchup that everyone has been hoping for. The top two teams of the season will meet in Dharamshala with direct qualification to the IPL 2026 final. The winner advances directly to the title clash, while the loser gets yet another opportunity through Qualifier 2.
Both teams looked incredibly complete throughout the season. RCB combined fearless batting with improved bowling discipline, while GT once again built their campaign on consistency, tactical awareness and calm execution under pressure.
The picturesque venue in Dharamshala is expected to provide one of the most exciting conditions of the playoffs. The pitch traditionally offers pace, bounce and movement at the start of the innings, making the powerplay phase extremely important. Fast bowlers who can hit difficult lengths will enjoy the help, especially in evening conditions.
RCB’s aggressive batting unit will look to attack from the start and put Gujarat under pressure before the bowlers settle down. Their top line has been one of the most devastating combinations this season, regularly outscoring opposing attacks in the top six. However, Gujarat Titans have one of the most balanced bowling line-ups of the tournament, with pacers who can take advantage of the Dharamshala conditions and spinners who can keep the wicket down during the medium overs.
Eliminator: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals
Unlike Qualifier 1, there is absolutely no room for error here. Eliminator is a straight knockout battle – lose and the campaign ends immediately, win and the ghost stays alive for another game. With both sides having explosive match-winners, this fixture has all the ingredients of a play-off thriller.
SRH come into the contest after playing one of the most attacking brands of cricket this season. Their batting approach was fearless, the batsmen constantly looking for boundaries and scoring quickly. Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, have relied more on balance, adaptability and the ability to overwhelm the opposition with spin and clever bowling changes.
The location in New Chandigarh can greatly influence the direction of the game. The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium has larger boundaries compared to several other IPL venues, which can reduce the effectiveness of pure power hitting and bring bowlers back into the contest.
This situation may suit Rajasthan Royals in particular and their spin-heavy strategy. RR’s slower bowlers have repeatedly controlled the middle innings this season, forcing the batsmen into risky shots. Their variations and ability to attack from both ends of the bat could prove crucial against SRH’s ultra-aggressive batting line-up.
The challenge for Sunrisers Hyderabad will be to maintain their attacking intent without losing wickets in the groups. If their top order passes the spin test and capitalizes during the power play, they can put RR under a lot of pressure. However, if Rajasthan’s bowlers manage to slow down the scoring rate during the middle overs, SRH may be forced to make some risky decisions at the end of the innings.
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IPL 2026 Playoff Matches Schedule
- May 26: Qualifier 1 – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans, Venue: HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala | Time: 14:00 GMT / 19:30 IST
- May 27: Eliminator – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals, Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium, Mullanpur | Time: 14:00 GMT / 19:30 IST
- May 29: Qualifier 2 – TBD vs TBD, Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, Mullanpur | Time: 14:00 GMT / 19:30 IST
- May 31: IPL 2026 Final – TBD vs TBD, Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | Time: 14:00 GMT / 19:30 IST
Stream and Live Streaming details
- India: Star Sports; JioHotstar app
- United Kingdom (Great Britain): Sky Sports Cricket; Sky Go, NOW TV
- United States of America (USA): Willow TV (Sign Up Here)
- Australia: Fox Sports, Channel 7; Kayo Sports
- Pakistan: A Sports, Ten Sports; Tapmad, Tamasha program
- Bangladesh: Ghazi TV (GTV); The Rabbithole App
- Nepal and Bhutan: Star Sports; JioHotstar (via India feed)
- Canada: ATN Cricket Plus; ATN Online
- New Zealand: Sky Sports New Zealand; Now on Sky Sports
- Middle East and North Africa (MENA): beIN Sports; beIN CONNECT
- Caribbean Sea: Sports Max
- South Africa: SuperSport; DStv program
- Sri Lanka: SLRC Channel Eye; Dialog TV Go
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