IPL playoff scenarios: DC's qualification chances improve to 10.6 per cent as RR join PBKS in taking a big hit

Delhi Capitals snapped their five-game losing run on home turf on Sunday, handing Rajasthan Royals a five-wicket loss to keep their faint hopes of reaching the playoffs in the ongoing Indian Premier League alive. While DC live to fight another day, RR's playoff hopes took another hit with Riyan Parag's side completing a hat-trick of defeats on Sunday and losing six of their last eight games.

Senior Australian pacer Mitchell Starc led the way with a haul of 4/40, playing a key role in helping DC restrict RR to 193/8 in the evening game of the Sunday double-header. KL Rahul (56) and Abhishek Porel (51) slammed fifties and shared a century opening stand later in the evening at the Arun Jaitley Stadium to setup a comfortable chase.

More from Firstcricket

Rajasthan were cruising at 161/2 in the 15th over earlier in the evening after being invited to bat by Delhi captain Axar Patel, thanks to half-centuries from Dhruv Jurel (53) and captain Parag (51) as well as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's explosive 21-ball 46.

Starc, who was later adjudged the Player of the Match, turned the game on its head by striking thrice in his third over, getting rid of Donovan Ferreira right after dismissing Parag to break his 62-run stand with Jurel and trapping debutant Ravi Singh LBW a couple of deliveries later. RR were also guilty of some ordinary fielding and bowling, with Yash Raj Punja handing Rahul a lifeline on nought after spilling a regulation catch off Jofra Archer's bowling.

The Royals failed to move back into the top-four following Punjab Kings' defeat at the hands of Royal Challengers Bengaluru earlier in the day, which made Rajat Patidar's side the first team to officially qualify for the playoffs. RR remain rooted to the fifth spot with 12 points for now while DC return to the seventh spot, ahead of Kolkata Knight Riders.

IPL 2026 points table

IPL playoffs: Qualification probability for all teams

RCB became the first team to confirm their place in the IPL 2026 playoffs following their 23-run victory over PBKS in Dharamsala during the afternoon fixture of the Sunday double-header.

And despite their 29-run defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders at Kolkata's Eden Gardens on Saturday, Gujarat Titans remain on track for the playoffs with a 99.20 per cent chance of qualifying – the highest among teams that are yet to get a 'Q' against their name.

DC, meanwhile, have been in do-or-die mode since their eight-wicket loss against Kolkata Knight Riders and have kept their slim playoff hopes alive for now with back-to-back wins. And interestingly, it's not just their chances of finishing among the top-four that has improved following their five-wicket victory, going from 3.1 per cent to 10.6 per cent. KKR's probability of reaching the playoffs too has risen to 13.90 from 7.1 per cent.

It's a similar story for Sunrisers Hyderabad, who remain at the third spot for now and have the best chance of qualifying for the playoffs after GT, with their probability going from 70.8 per cent to 75 per cent. CSK, who host the Sunrisers at Chepauk on Monday, have also registered a slight improvement to 35.5 per cent from 28 per cent.

The only two teams whose chances of reaching the playoffs took a hit – and quite a big one at that – are RR and PBKS, the teams that finished on the losing side on Sunday. Punjab, who have lost their last six games on the trot, now have a probability of 31.10 per cent from 47.4 per cent, while the corresponding number for Rajasthan stands at 34.80 from 51.2 per cent.