Nobody Looks Safe Yet

This is the stage of the season where the points table usually starts behaving. One or two teams pull away, a few settle in the middle, and the bottom sides slowly disappear. But IPL 2026 has not been that kind of season. There's still enough time for any result to count. One moment the Punjab Kings seemed to be on top with 13 points, but two bad performances brought them back to the pack. The three defeats have left Royal Challengers Bengaluru on 12 points, which is still in the fray, but is not sitting easy either. At the time, there were eight teams which were still in the playoff race and even the bottom two weren't ruled out.

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RCB’s Top-Two Push Has Pressure Written All Over It

For RCB, this is not only about reaching the playoffs. It is about finishing in the top two. That matters because a top-two finish gives a team an extra chance to reach the final, and in a tournament like this, that buffer can change everything. It removes some of the panic that comes with the Eliminator route. For a side that wants to defend a title, that extra cushion matters. But the road is not simple. They have games in hand compared to some teams around them, yes. But none of that means much if they slip now. At this stage, every IPL match in 2026 feels like it has two points on the surface and a bigger emotional cost underneath. RCB fans know this feeling too well. The team can look settled one week and suddenly make life difficult the next. So even when the table looks decent, nobody is fully relaxed. If they win cleanly from here, top two is very possible. If they lose momentum, the same table can start looking dangerous very quickly.

SRH, GT and RR Have Less Room to Breathe

Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals were all tied at 12, but with the crucial difference that they played one match more than RCB and Punjab Kings. That meant they were afforded less margin for error. This put them in a much closer race for the playoffs than the teams that are ahead of them, HT reported. SRH were in good stead after a shaky start. However, their loss to Kolkata Knight riders put the race back on. They were in control of their own qualification push. With four matches left at this stage, they likely needed at least two wins to keep control of their own qualification story. They also appeared to have some difficult games left as some of their opponents were direct playoff opponents.

GT were in a similar area. They weren't necessarily the noisiest team in the tournament, but at least their bowling had seen them through. with names like Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, and Prasidh Krishna, they have enough bite to stay alive in pressure games; they had six wins from ten and likely needed two more wins from four. Rajasthan Royals are the trickiest case. They started with energy, especially through their openers, but three defeats in five games changed the mood. Now they cannot afford too many lazy evenings. They probably need three wins from four to feel safe, and that is not a comfortable place to be.

CSK Are Still Hanging Around

You can never fully ignore Chennai Super Kings in a playoff race. Even when they start slowly, even when the table looks against them, they somehow stay in the conversation long enough to make other teams nervous. This season is no different. CSK have found a bit of rhythm with three wins in their last five games, but the early damage means they still need a strong finish. HT’s assessment was that they likely need three wins from their last four matches to stay in the fight. That is not impossible. But it is not easy either. For CSK, the problem is not just winning. They also need to make sure their net run rate does not become a headache. At this stage, small margins can come back to hurt teams badly.

Delhi Capitals are in a tougher place. They started with promise, but the season has slipped away at the wrong time. With only one win in five games, their route is almost closed. They may need to win all four of their remaining matches, which is the kind of equation no team wants in May. 

KKR Fights Back; MI and LSG Stare at the Exit

It has become more difficult with Kolkata Knight Riders. They came on after a shaky beginning to win three matches in a row and remained in the mix. Nevertheless, with that resistance, the journey is harsh. They have five more games to play and could need to win them all to make a big push. KKR has come back from the brink plenty of times before, and no one would turn against them completely. However, it was not as consistent this season, making the job more difficult. At the bottom, Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants are almost out of breathing space. Both teams were on the verge of elimination, adding that another loss could bring an end to the campaign. If they win all their remaining games, then even with that, they'd need huge support in net run-rate to qualify. It hurts to be there for Mumbai Indians. Such a team isn't accustomed to depending on teams for survival. However, this is the season they've turned into. A team with that history is not used to waiting on other teams for survival. But that is exactly what this season has become for them.

Why This Race Feels So Wild

The reason this playoff race feels messy is simple: too many teams are still close enough to hurt each other. RCB and PBKS have a small advantage because of points and games in hand. SRH, GT and RR are close but have less margin. CSK are dangerous but still chasing. DC needs something close to a miracle. KKR are trying to create one. MI and LSG are barely alive. That mix creates chaos. It also means net run rate could become a serious factor. Teams cannot just win anymore. They may need to win well. Captains will have to think not only about two points, but about how quickly they chase, how much they restrict, and whether they can protect their NRR if the game slips.

That is where the pressure becomes different from normal league matches.

In the early season, a narrow win is enough. At this stage, even a win can feel incomplete if the margin does not help.

This phase is what makes the IPL so addictive. The table changes quickly, fan calculations change daily, and one upset can turn the whole race upside down. RCB and PBKS are in the mix but so are SRH and GT not far behind. One of the front runners is likely to slip, and the middle pack can easily move up. That's why 2026 is still an open book for IPL. There's no favourites, no safe side. The next few games could very well determine who moves on to the playoffs, and who will have the easier path to the final.

For The United Indian

Why This Matters

At The United Indian, we look beyond the scoreboard. This playoff race is not about just points; it is all about the pressure, timing, momentum and most importantly how teams react when every match starts feeling like a knockout.

The Bigger Picture

The league has entered the dangerous phase. One strong week can push a team toward the top two. One poor game can leave even a good side depending on other results.

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