Last Updated on May 14, 2026 by Naveen Saini
Virat Kohli’s stunning 105* off 60 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders on May 13 did two things at once – it took him past 14,000 T20 runs, and it officially sealed Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s spot in the IPL 2026 playoffs. Along with Gujarat Titans, who demolished SRH by 82 runs earlier this week, two of the four playoff spots are now confirmed. The race for the remaining two spots is wide open — and with only a few league matches left, every game now counts.
IPL 2026 Points Table – Updated May 14, 2026
| Rank | Team | M | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR | Status |
| 1 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 16 | +1.053 | Qualified |
| 2 | Gujarat Titans | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 16 | +0.551 | Qualified |
| 3 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 14 | +0.331 | In contention |
| 4 | Punjab Kings | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 13 | +0.428 | In contention |
| 5 | Chennai Super Kings | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 12 | +0.185 | In contention |
| 6 | Rajasthan Royals | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 12 | +0.082 | In contention |
| 7 | Delhi Capitals | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 10 | -0.993 | Very difficult |
| 8 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 11 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 9 | -0.198 | Very difficult |
| 9 | Mumbai Indians | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 6 | -0.585 | Eliminated |
| 10 | Lucknow Super Giants | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 6 | -0.907 | Eliminated |
Source: NewsX, ESPNcricinfo | Updated after RCB vs KKR, May 13, 2026
Confirmed Qualifiers — RCB and GT
1. Royal Challengers Bengaluru – 16 Points
Virat Kohli hit an unbeaten 105 off just 60 balls to lead RCB’s chase against KKR on May 13. This was his 9th IPL century – the most by any batsman in IPL history. The win officially confirmed RCB’s spot in the playoffs. With an NRR of +1.053 – the best in the tournament – RCB look like genuine title contenders heading into the knockout stage.
2. Gujarat Titans 16 Points ✅
Gujarat Titans moved to the top of the points table after an 82-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad. In that match, SRH were bowled out for just 86 runs one of the lowest scores in IPL history. Shubman Gill’s GT have looked the most balanced side this season. With 8 wins from 12 games, they enter the playoff phase with confidence.
The Race for Spots 3 and 4 – 4 Teams Still Fighting
Sunrisers Hyderabad – 14 Points (Best Placed)
SRH sit third with 14 points and matches remaining. Even after that embarrassing 86 all-out collapse against GT, with 14 points already secured, one more win should be enough to seal their playoff spot. Their NRR of +0.331 is comfortable.
- What they need: 1 win from remaining matches
Punjab Kings – 13 Points
PBKS have 13 points from 11 matches and face Mumbai Indians on May 15. A win puts them on 15 points with a game in hand. Shreyas Iyer has been exceptional as captain this season – this is PBKS’s best chance at a playoff appearance in years.
- What they need: Win against MI + 1 more win
Chennai Super Kings – 12 Points
CSK are alive with 12 points and 3 matches remaining. MS Dhoni’s final IPL season could still end with a playoff appearance. They need to win at least 2 of their remaining games.
- What they need: 2 wins from 3 remaining matches
Rajasthan Royals – 12 Points
RR are also on 12 points same as CSK but with a slightly lower NRR of +0.082. Sanju Samson and company have 3 matches left. If RR and CSK both win their remaining matches, NRR could be the deciding factor.
- What they need: 2 wins from 3 remaining matches + better NRR than CSK
Virtually Out DC and KKR
Delhi Capitals (10 points) need to win all remaining matches AND hope other results go their way. With an NRR of -0.993, it is mathematically possible but practically near impossible.
Kolkata Knight Riders (9 points) are effectively out. The defending champions had a dismal season. KKR’s loss to RCB leaves them 8th with little hope of recovery.
Confirmed Eliminations MI and LSG
Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya’s captaincy experiment has failed this season. MI have won just 3 from 11 matches and are officially out of the running. NRR of -0.585 tells the full story.
Lucknow Super Giants : LSG have also been eliminated with 3 wins from 11 matches. The KL Rahul-led side never really got going this season.
IPL 2026 Playoff Schedule
| Match | Date | Venue |
| Qualifier 1 (1st vs 2nd) | May 26, 2026 | HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala |
| Eliminator (3rd vs 4th) | May 27, 2026 | New Chandigarh Stadium |
| Qualifier 2 | May 29, 2026 | New Chandigarh Stadium |
| IPL 2026 FINAL | May 31, 2026 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
Who Can Win IPL 2026?
- RCB – Kohli in peak form, best NRR in tournament. Can they finally win their first title?
- GT – Most complete team this season. Shubman Gill’s captaincy + Kagiso Rabada’s bowling.
- SRH – Good pace attack but batting collapses are a concern after the 86 all-out vs GT.
- PBKS – If they qualify, Shreyas Iyer’s aggressive captaincy makes them a wildcard threat.
Key Takeaways
- RCB (16 pts) and GT (16 pts) have officially qualified for IPL 2026 playoffs
- SRH (14), PBKS (13), CSK (12), RR (12) — 4 teams fighting for 2 remaining spots
- Mumbai Indians and LSG are officially eliminated from IPL 2026
- IPL 2026 Final: May 31, 2026 — Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Virat Kohli scored his 9th IPL century (105* off 60 balls) vs KKR on May 13
