New Delhi: The playoffs for the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) are set to commence on May 26, following the completion of the group stage. Four teams have secured their positions in the knockout rounds, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) facing Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 1.
The match is scheduled to take place at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. RCB concluded the group phase in first place, achieving nine victories against five losses, thus accumulating a total of 18 points. The Gujarat Titans, also with nine wins and five losses, finished in second place due to a lower net run rate compared to RCB.
The winner of Qualifier 1 will advance directly to the final, while the losing side will have a second chance in Qualifier 2.
In the Eliminator match, Rajasthan Royals will meet Sunrisers Hyderabad in Mullanpur on May 27. The victor of this encounter will proceed to face the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2, while the loser will be eliminated from the competition. The winner of Qualifier 2 will compete against the Qualifier 1 winner in the final on May 31.
IPL 2026 Playoffs Schedule:
- Qualifier 1: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Gujarat Titans at HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala on May 26 at 7:30 PM.
- Eliminator: Rajasthan Royals vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh on May 27 at 7:30 PM.
- Qualifier 2: Winner of Eliminator vs. Loser of Qualifier 1 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh on May 29 at 7:30 PM.
- Final: Winner of Qualifier 1 vs. Winner of Qualifier 2 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on May 31 at 7:30 PM.
