The knockout stage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been finalised following the conclusion of the group phase. The final spot in the top four was secured by Rajasthan Royals after their victory against Mumbai Indians. They join Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Gujarat Titans, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, all of whom had previously confirmed their qualification for the business end of the tournament.
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Final League Standings and Point Calculations
Following the completion of 14 matches for each franchise, the league table reflects a highly competitive season. Three teams finished with an identical tally of 18 points, requiring Net Run Rate (NRR) to determine their final positions.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, led by Virat Kohli, secured the top spot with 18 points and a superior run rate. Gujarat Titans, captained by Shubman Gill, also finished on 18 points but took second place due to their NRR. Similarly, Pat Cummins’ Sunrisers Hyderabad ended the group stage with 18 points, placing third. Rajasthan Royals occupied the final qualification spot, finishing fourth with 16 points.
The Play-off Structure and Schedule
The IPL play-off system provides a distinct advantage to the top two finishers while offering no margin for error to the teams in third and fourth.
Qualifier 1: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans
The first Qualifier is scheduled for 26 May in Dharamshala. This match features the top two teams on the ladder. The winner will earn a direct berth in the final. However, the losing side will remain in the competition, receiving a second chance to reach the final by competing in Qualifier 2.
The Eliminator: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals
The Eliminator will take place on 27 May at Mullanpur. This is a knockout fixture between the third and fourth-placed teams. The losing side will be immediately eliminated from the tournament, while the winner will advance to face the loser of Qualifier 1.
Qualifier 2
Scheduled for 29 May at Mullanpur, this match serves as the final gateway to the championship match. It pits the loser of the first Qualifier against the victor of the Eliminator.
The Grand Final
The tournament concludes on 31 May at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat. This venue, known as the largest cricket stadium in the world, will host the two remaining teams to decide the champion of the current IPL season.
IPL Play-off Match Schedule 2026
| Match | Participating Teams | Date | Venue |
| Qualifier 1 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans | 26 May | Dharamshala |
| Eliminator | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals | 27 May | Mullanpur |
| Qualifier 2 | Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator | 29 May | Mullanpur |
| Final | Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2 | 31 May | Ahmedabad |
Tournament Summary
The 2026 season has followed the standard double round-robin format, resulting in a total of 70 group-stage matches before the commencement of the play-offs. The distribution of venues for the knockout stages ensures that cricket fans in different regions, including Dharamshala and Mullanpur, witness high-stakes cricket before the climax in Ahmedabad. All matches are expected to follow the standard T20 format regulations as overseen by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).