At the time of drafting this article, there are only seven remaining matches in the table stage, and yet, five teams are battling for one last spot

Never before in the Indian Premier League (IPL) have five teams battled for one last spot. In the ongoing season, despite the slim chances for the Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, and Punjab Kings, these five teams are mathematically still in the race for the playoffs, with only seven matches remaining in the table stage.

IPL 2026: All qualification scenarios explained 🇮🇳

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— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) May 19, 2026

Four teams, one spot

The last time playoff battles became chaotic in the tournament was in 2019 and 2021, when four teams fought for one playoff spot.

In 2019, Sunrisers Hyderabad needed to win their last match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The Kolkata Knight Riders needed to win both their remaining matches against the Kings XI Punjab and the Mumbai Indians. Kings XI Punjab also needed two wins against the Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings in their final two games. And for the Rajasthan Royals, a victory against the Delhi Capitals was a must, coupled with the losses in Hyderabad, Kolkata and Punjab.

SRH’s playoff journey over the years 👀

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— CricTracker.02 (@ZENbreaking) May 19, 2026

One point difference

After the chaos, it was Sunrisers Hyderabad who grabbed the fourth spot with 12 points and a net run rate of +0.577. There was no point difference between the 4th, 5th, and 6th-placed teams, as Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Punjab finished with 12 points each. Hyderabad made the cut because of their better net run rate.

In the 7th and 8th places, Rajasthan and Bengaluru finished, respectively, both scoring 11 points but differing in net run rate.

2021 playoff battles

2021 saw Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings, and Royal Challengers Bangalore secure three playoff spots, leaving a battle between Kolkata, Mumbai, Punjab, and Rajasthan for the final spot.

🗣️ Ravichandran Ashwin on KKR's 2021 comeback inspiration

"In 2021, KKR were in a similar situation, completely down and out. But after the restart, they found momentum and went on a remarkable run to the final." pic.twitter.com/QPA54UJeKG

— Rokte Amar KKR (@Rokte_Amarr_KKR) April 16, 2026

Eventually, the Kolkata Knight Riders grabbed the fourth spot in the playoffs despite sharing the points with the Mumbai Indians. However, it was their superior net run rate of +0.587 that enabled the Riders to seal a berth in the top four, whereas Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals finished in 6th and 7th place, respectively.

Since 2008, there have been instances of five teams fighting for three spots or seven teams battling for two spots, but five teams fighting for one spot is a first. In the ongoing season, Bengaluru, Gujarat, and Hyderabad have already booked their berths, but if the fourth-placed team goes on to win the trophy, it will be one of the best climaxes in the IPL’s history.