IPL playoffs scenario: KKR keep qualification dream alive, but RR still favourite to reach top-4

Kolkata Knight Riders kept their IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive with a crucial four-wicket win over Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens on Wednesday. However, despite KKR’s strong late-season comeback, Rajasthan Royals still remain favourites to grab the final playoff spot.

KKR have now won six of their last seven matches and climbed to sixth place in the points table with 13 points from 13 matches. Their dramatic turnaround comes after they started the season with six consecutive defeats.

To qualify for the playoffs, KKR must beat Delhi Capitals in their final league match and then hope both Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals lose their remaining matches.

KKR's qualification scenario. Image: Screengrab/JioHotstar

RR's fate remains in their own hands

Rajasthan Royals are currently fourth with 14 points and have the simplest equation among all the teams fighting for the last playoff spot. If RR defeat Mumbai Indians in their final game, they will qualify for the playoffs regardless of other results.

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The situation becomes more complicated if RR lose. In that case, if PBKS beat Lucknow Super Giants and KKR also defeat Delhi Capitals, then both these teams could finish with 15 points. The qualification race would then be decided by Net Run Rate.

Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals are still mathematically alive as well, but both teams need several results to go in their favour. They would need RR, PBKS, and KKR to lose heavily, while also winning their own matches by massive margins to improve their NRR.

IPL 2026 points table

In the match against Mumbai Indians, KKR produced another solid all-round performance in a rain-affected game. Mumbai Indians struggled to 147/8 after being reduced to 41/4 in the powerplay.

Hardik Pandya scored 26 and Tilak Varma made 20, while Corbin Bosch provided late momentum with an unbeaten 32 off 18 balls. For KKR, Saurabh Dubey, Cameron Green and Kartik Tyagi picked up two wickets each.

In reply, Manish Pandey scored 45 while Rovman Powell added 40 as KKR chased down the target in 18.5 overs. Although Corbin Bosch impressed again with 3/30 for Mumbai Indians, KKR eventually completed the chase comfortably with Rinku Singh hitting the winning runs.