The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is quickly nearing its conclusion. The tournament kicked off on March 22 with a high-voltage clash between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore, and the final is set for May 25. But before that, the teams must pass through the crucial Qualifiers and the Eliminator. And to get there, they first need to finish in the top four and secure a playoff spot.
Most teams have already played 10 or 11 matches, and naturally, the playoff math has begun. Let’s take a look at the current scenario and what each team needs to do.
How the Playoffs Work
- After the group stage ends, the top four teams on the points table will advance to the playoffs.
- The top two teams will face off in Qualifier 1.
- The third and fourth-placed teams will meet in the Eliminator.
The winner of Qualifier 1 heads straight to the final. The loser gets one more chance—they’ll face the Eliminator winner in Qualifier 2. Whoever wins Qualifier 2 joins the Qualifier 1 winner in the final showdown.
Points Table Overview
Upcoming Fixtures by Team
- Mumbai Indians: vs Gujarat (May 6), Punjab (May 11), Delhi (May 15)
- Gujarat Titans: vs Mumbai (May 6), Delhi (May 11), Lucknow (May 14), Chennai (May 18)
- Royal Challengers Bangalore: vs Chennai (May 3), Lucknow (May 9), Hyderabad (May 13), Kolkata (May 17)
- Punjab Kings: vs Lucknow (May 4), Delhi (May 8), Mumbai (May 11), Rajasthan (May 16)
- Delhi Capitals: vs Hyderabad (May 5), Punjab (May 8), Gujarat (May 11), Mumbai (May 15)
- Lucknow Super Giants: vs Punjab (May 4), Bangalore (May 9), Gujarat (May 14), Hyderabad (May 18)
- Kolkata Knight Riders: vs Rajasthan (May 4), Chennai (May 7), Hyderabad (May 10), Bangalore (May 17)
- Rajasthan Royals: vs Kolkata (May 4), Chennai (May 12), Punjab (May 16)
- Sunrisers Hyderabad: vs Delhi (May 5), Kolkata (May 10), Bangalore (May 13), Lucknow (May 18)
- Chennai Super Kings: vs Bangalore (May 3), Kolkata (May 7), Rajasthan (May 12)
Team-by-Team Playoff Equation
Mumbai Indians
They’re currently at the top of the table, with a superb net run rate of +1.274. Just one more win should secure their playoff spot. Even if they slip in the remaining matches, their strong NRR gives them a safety net.
Gujarat Titans
Sitting second in the table, Gujarat also have a solid NRR of +0.867. One win might be enough to book their place in the playoffs, but two wins could help them stay in the top two and grab a spot in Qualifier 1.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
RCB are currently third with a healthy NRR of +0.521. One more win might be enough for playoff qualification, while two could put them in contention for the top two.
Punjab Kings
Fourth on the table, Punjab have a positive NRR of +0.199. To confirm their playoff place, they’ll likely need at least two wins from their remaining four games.
Delhi Capitals
With a decent NRR of +0.362, Delhi must win at least two of their last four matches to stay in contention. But they’ll also have to hope for favorable results from other games.
Lucknow Super Giants
Their NRR is slightly in the negative (-0.325), which puts them under pressure. They’ll need to win at least three of their remaining four matches—preferably by big margins—and hope for other teams to falter.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Despite a solid NRR of +0.271, KKR are trailing in points. They must win at least three of their last four games and depend on other results going their way.
Rajasthan Royals
With just 6 points from 11 matches, RR are already out of the playoff race.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. They must win all remaining matches convincingly and still rely on other outcomes.
Chennai Super Kings
CSK have only 4 points from 10 matches and a poor NRR of -1.211—the worst of the lot. They were the first team to be knocked out of playoff contention.
