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Royals grab the last playoff ticket
Rajasthan Royals have made it to the IPL 2026 playoffs. They beat Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday afternoon, and that win pushed them to fourth place on the points table.
With this victory, Rajasthan joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the knockout stage.
The result also knocked out two teams – Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. Punjab finished with 15 points, one less than Rajasthan’s 16. Kolkata have only 13 points and can’t catch up even if they win their last match later tonight.
Key Points from the Match Result:
RR won a must-win game under pressure
Finished league stage with 16 points
Secured 4th place on the points table
Knocked out two teams with one victory
Two Teams Heartbroken Without Playing
Rajasthan's win didn't just make their own fans happy. It also ended the hopes of two other teams – Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders – without them even stepping onto the field.
Here's how it worked: Punjab Kings had finished their season with 15 points. Rajasthan's win took them to 16, which means Punjab cannot catch up. Kolkata Knight Riders, before their evening match against Delhi Capitals, had only 13 points. Even a win would take them only to 15 – still not enough. So both teams were knocked out, right there, the moment the Rajasthan match ended.
For Punjab and Kolkata fans, it was a painful way to go – watching another team's victory end your journey.
Key Points – Who Got Knocked Out and Why:
| Team | Points Before RR Win | Max Possible After | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab Kings | 15 | 15 | ❌ Knocked out |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 13 | 15 | ❌ Knocked out |
| Rajasthan Royals | 13 (before match) | 16 | ✅ Qualified |
What happens next in the playoffs
With the top four finally decided, here's how the knockout stage is set up.
Qualifier 1:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (1st place) vs Gujarat Titans (2nd place)
Winner goes straight to the final
Loser gets one more chance in Qualifier 2
Eliminator:
Sunrisers Hyderabad (3rd place) vs Rajasthan Royals (4th place)
This is do-or-die – lose once and you're out
Winner moves to Qualifier 2
Qualifier 2:
Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator
Winner goes to the final
Loser goes home
The Final:
Played in Ahmedabad
Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2
Key Points – Playoff Schedule:
🏏 Qualifier 1: RCB vs GT
🏏 Eliminator: SRH vs RR
🏏 Qualifier 2: Loser of Q1 vs Winner of Eliminator
🏆 Final: Ahmedabad
The Tough Road for Qualifier 1 Loser
One team will have a very busy few days. The team that loses Qualifier 1 has to:
Travel from Dharamsala to New Chandigarh
Play Qualifier 2 with almost no break
If they win that, immediately travel to Ahmedabad for the final
That's a lot of travel and very little rest. It's not impossible – teams have done it before – but it's definitely a challenge. Fresh legs and good bench strength become very important.
Key Points – Travel Challenges:
✈️ Dharamsala → New Chandigarh (after Qualifier 1)
✈️ New Chandigarh → Ahmedabad (if they win Qualifier 2)
⏰ Only one day gap between Qualifier 2 and final
😓 Fitness and squad depth will be tested
What Happened to the Bottom Teams
At the other end of the table, things didn't look great for Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants.
Mumbai Indians: Won only 4 matches out of 14. Finished 9th place.
Lucknow Super Giants: Also won only 4 matches. Finished at the very bottom – 10th place.
For their fans, it was a season to forget. But that's the beauty of IPL – every team gets a fresh start next year. Both Mumbai and Lucknow will be looking at the auction and thinking about how to rebuild.
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Key Points – Bottom of the Table:
| Position | Team | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9th | Mumbai Indians | 4 | 10 |
| 10th | Lucknow Super Giants | 4 | 10 |
A Late Change in the Royals' Camp
Just before this crucial match against Mumbai, Rajasthan Royals had to deal with some unexpected bad news.
Wicketkeeper-batter Ravi Singh was ruled out for the rest of IPL 2026. He had hurt his hamstring – a painful muscle injury that takes time to heal. Ravi had played only one match this season, against Delhi Capitals a week earlier. He wasn't a regular in the playing eleven, but losing any player at such a critical stage is never easy.
Injuries can throw a team off balance, especially when every match matters. The Royals needed someone to fill the spot quickly.
Key Points – Ravi Singh Injury:
🩸 Injury type: Hamstring strain
📅 Last played: Against Delhi Capitals
🎯 Role: Wicketkeeper-batter
⚠️ Impact: Squad depth reduced at critical time