The IPL 2026 playoff battle intensified on Sunday after the Rajasthan Royals suffered a five-wicket defeat against the Delhi Capitals in New Delhi, leaving their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
Batting first, Rajasthan Royals posted a competitive total of 193/8 in their allotted 20 overs, courtesy of impressive half-centuries from Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag. The duo steadied the innings and ensured RR crossed the 190-run mark on a batting-friendly surface.
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In reply, Delhi Capitals delivered a composed chase led by a brilliant opening stand between Abishek Porel and KL Rahul. Skipper Axar Patel then produced a fiery cameo to guide Delhi to victory with four balls remaining.
Following the result, Rajasthan Royals remain on 12 points from 12 matches, while Delhi Capitals also moved to 12 points but from 13 games. So far, only Royal Challengers Bengaluru have officially secured a place in the IPL 2026 playoffs.
For Rajasthan Royals, the road ahead remains challenging. The side must win both of their remaining league matches against Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians to finish with 16 points from 14 matches.
However, even two victories may not guarantee qualification. If Sunrisers Hyderabad win one of their remaining two matches, Chennai Super Kings win both of their remaining fixtures, and Gujarat Titans lose their final game, multiple teams could end up tied on 16 points. In such a scenario, Net Run Rate (NRR) would determine the teams advancing to the playoffs.
If Rajasthan Royals manage to win only one of their remaining matches, they will finish on 14 points. In that case, they would need teams like Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders to lose their remaining fixtures. Once again, qualification could ultimately depend on Net Run Rate.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
