Delhi: The picture of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 playoffs has now become even more interesting. Even though there were no major changes in the points table after the double header matches played on Sunday, May 17, the results of both the matches had a deep impact on the fortunes of many teams. On one hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) secured the playoff ticket in a powerful manner, while Delhi Capitals (DC) kept their hopes alive till the last moment.
Also read- IPL 2026: Virat Kohli created a record in PBKS vs RCB match, wrote a new history in T20 cricket.
Bengaluru made it to the playoffs with a big win
In the first match of the day, Royal Challengers Bangalore performed brilliantly and defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 23 runs. Bengaluru’s batsmen first scored runs aggressively, after which the bowlers kept Punjab’s batting under complete pressure.
With this victory, Bengaluru achieved its ninth success in the season and reached 18 points. The team has won 9 out of 13 matches. With this, Royal Challengers Bangalore entered the playoffs and also strengthened their hold on the top position in the points table.
Delhi’s victory makes the playoff battle exciting
In Sunday’s second match, Delhi Capitals kept their hopes alive in the tournament by defeating Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 5 wickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. In the match, Rajasthan batted first and scored a challenging score of 194 runs, but Delhi’s batsmen achieved the target by showing an excellent mix of restraint and aggression.
This was Delhi’s second consecutive win, while it was the team’s sixth win in the current season. After this important success, Delhi has 12 points in 13 matches. The team has jumped from eighth place to seventh place in the points table.
Also read- PBKS vs RCB: Shreyas Iyer created history, became the fifth player to captain 100 matches in IPL
Now eyes fixed on the last matches
The path to the playoffs is still not easy for Delhi Capitals, but this victory has definitely given hope to the team. Now the upcoming matches will decide which teams will be able to make it to the last four. On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore have given a big message to the other teams by gaining momentum in time.
IPL 2026 points table:
| place | Team | match | Victory | Garland | inconclusive | score | net run rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Challengers Bangalore (Q) | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 18 | +1.065 |
| 2 | gujarat titans | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 16 | +0.400 |
| 3 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 14 | +0.331 |
| 4 | punjab kings | 13 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 13 | +0.227 |
| 5 | Rajasthan Royals | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | +0.027 |
| 6 | Chennai Super Kings | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | +0.027 |
| 7 | Delhi Capitals | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 12 | -0.871 |
| 8 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 11 | -0.038 |
| 9 | Mumbai Indians (E) | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 8 | -0.504 |
| 10 | Lucknow Super Giants (E) | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 8 | -0.701 |
The playoff battle was interesting
It is noteworthy that the playoff race of IPL 2026 has now reached a very exciting turn. Royal Challengers Bangalore has shown great consistency and increased the pressure on the other teams by qualifying first. At the same time, the victory of Delhi Capitals has made the match more interesting. The position of Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad looks strong, but there can be a tough competition between Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings. Net run rate will also play an important role now. The upcoming matches will decide not just win-loss but the direction of the entire season. This is also the biggest feature of IPL.
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