IPL 2026 Playoffs: RCB and GT Lead the Charge for the Title

The IPL 2026 playoffs are set to begin, with RCB and GT emerging as strong contenders for the title. With historical data indicating a 93.3% chance of victory for these teams, fans are eager to see if they can secure the championship. The playoffs will feature exciting matches, including RCB vs. GT in the first qualifier and SRH vs. RR in the eliminator. This article delves into the playoff history and the odds of each team, providing insights into what to expect in the coming days.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 25, 2026, 00:01 IST

IPL 2026 Playoffs Overview

As the league phase of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) concludes, fans eagerly await the crowning of the champion in just a week. The Rajasthan Royals (RR) have secured their spot in the playoffs alongside the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Gujarat Titans (GT), and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). This guarantees that a new champion will emerge, as each of these teams has previously claimed one title. The first qualifier will see RCB take on GT in Dharamshala on Tuesday, May 26, with both teams being strong contenders for the championship. Meanwhile, the eliminator will feature SRH facing RR in New Chandigarh on Wednesday, May 27.

Title Chances for RCB and GT

Historical data suggests that RCB and GT have a remarkable 93.3% probability of winning the title, while SRH and RR hold only a 6.66% chance. Since the playoff format was introduced in 2011, 14 out of 15 champions (93.3%) have been among the top two teams competing in the first qualifier. The only exception occurred a decade ago when SRH triumphed over RCB in the final at Chinnaswamy Stadium in 2016.

IPL Playoffs and Winners Since 2011

Year	Teams To Play Qualifier 1 (Top 2 Finish)	Teams To Play Eliminator (Third And Fourth)	Finalist	Winner
2011	RCB VS CSK	MI VS KKR	CSK VS RCB	CSK
2012	DD VS KKR	MI VS CSK	KKR VS CSK	KKR
2013	MI VS CSK	RR VS SRH	CSK vs MI	MI
2014	PBKS VS KKR	CSK VS MI	KKR VS PBKS	KKR
2015	CSK VS MI	RCB VS RR	MI VS CSK	MI
2016	GL VS RCB	SRH VS KKR	RCB VS SRH	SRH
2017	MI VS RPSG	KKR VS SRH	RPSG VS MI	MI
2018	SRH VS CSK	RR VS KKR	CSK VS SRH	CSK
2019	MI VS CSK	SRH VS DC	MI VS CSK	MI
2020	MI VS DC	RCB VS SRH	MI VS DC	MI
2021	DC VS CSK	RCB vs KKR	CSK VS KKR	CSK
2022	GT VS RR	RCB VS LSG	GT VS RR	GT
2023	GT VS CSK	LSG VS MI	GT VS CSK	CSK
2024	KKR VS SRH	RR VS RCB	KKR VS SRH	KKR
2025	PBKS VS RCB	GT VS MI	RCB VS PBKS	RCB
2026	RCB VS GT	SRH VS RR	TBD	TBD

Additionally, teams that have participated in the first qualifier have reached the final in 12 of the 15 seasons. The only teams that failed to reach the final despite having two opportunities are the Delhi Daredevils/Capitals (2012 and 2021) and the Gujarat Lions (2016). Furthermore, the team that wins the first qualifier has secured the championship in 12 out of 15 seasons, with the exceptions being the Mumbai Indians (2013 and 2017) and SRH in 2016.