Six IPL teams in race for three play-off spots: Who has to do what to qualify

Having already qualified for the playoffs before Saturday’s match, and by thrashing Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians made sure of top spot and two chances of making the IPL final.

Dinesh Karthik of Kolkata Knight Riders during Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 cricket match against Rajasthan Royals, at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (PTI Photo)

Mumbai Indians: They had already qualified for the playoffs before Saturday’s match, and by thrashing Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians made sure of top spot and two chances of making the IPL final. Even if they lose the first qualifier (between team No.1 and 2), they will get one more chance in the second qualifier to book a place in the final.

Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals: The winners of Monday night’s game between these two teams will be guaranteed a top-two spot while the losers can even find themselves out of the competition, depending on other results.

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Sunrisers Hyderabad: They need to beat table-toppers Mumbai Indians to stay in the hunt. They would also hope for Kings XI Punjab to lose against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday, and the match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals to be a close one. They have two things going in their favour – their much better net run rate, and the fact that their match is the last league encounter, which means they would know exactly what they need to qualify.

Kings XI Punjab: They have to beat party-poopers Chennai Super Kings to have any chance. Then they have to keep an eye on their net run rate and all the other teams who finish on 14 points. As of now, they are better placed than Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders in that regard.

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Rajasthan Royals: They need to beat KKR to stay relevant. They will also hope that CSK beat KXIP and Mumbai Indians get the better of Sunrisers Hyderabad. In that case, they will go through without net run rate coming into play.

Kolkata Knight Riders: They are in a similar position to RR. They need to beat Steve Smith’s team and hope KXIP and SRH lose. KKR’s net run rate is lower than that of RR so if either of those teams win their games, Eoin Morgan’s men will need to win by a very big margin to qualify.

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Tushar Bhaduri

Tushar Bhaduri is a highly experienced sports journalist with The Indian Express, based in Delhi. He has been a journalist for 25 years, with 20 of those dedicated to sports reporting. Professional Background Expertise: Tushar writes on a wide variety of sports, focusing on the "bigger picture" and identifying underlying trends that impact the sporting world. Experience: He has covered numerous major global sporting events over his long career. Writing Style: He is known for providing analytical depth, often exploring governance, sportsmanship, and tactical evolutions in games like cricket, golf, and hockey. Recent Notable Articles (2025) His recent work highlights his diverse interests, ranging from the business of golf to major international cricket tournaments: Golf and Athlete Ventures: "In turf battle of golf leagues, Kapil Dev and Yuvraj Singh in opposite camps" (Dec 11, 2025) — A piece on the rivalry between new golf leagues promoted by Indian cricket legends. "Golf's glittering stars in India: Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood... battle for $4million prize" (Oct 14, 2025) — Coverage of the biggest-ever golf tournament in India. Cricket and World Cups: "How rains in Colombo helped India stay alive in the ICC Women's World Cup" (Oct 22, 2025). "Champions Trophy: How Glenn Maxwell brain-fade proved costly" (Mar 4, 2025) — Analysis of a critical turning point in the IND vs AUS match. "IPL 2025 Qualifier 1: In PBKS and RCB, the league's underachievers look to take one step closer" (May 28, 2025). Thought Pieces and Policy: "Sportsmanship is going out of fashion" (Oct 8, 2025) — An editorial on the blurring lines between passion and provocation across various sports like chess, golf, and cricket. "Can the Italian Open really become the fifth Grand Slam in tennis?" (May 20, 2024). Olympic Sports: "Paris Olympics hockey: Why the defeat to Belgium ushers in hope and optimism for India" (Aug 1, 2024). Topics of Interest Tushar frequently writes about IPL strategy, ICC tournament planning, and profiles of rising stars like Vaibhav Suryavanshi. He also maintains a keen interest in historical sports narratives, such as the legacy of Dhyan Chand. ... Read More