IPL 2026 Points Table: Favourites For Playoffs, Who Can Qualify - Check Latest Standings After Match 38

As the 2026 IPL passes the halfway mark, the race for the top four is heating up. Most teams have played seven or eight matches, and we can now see a clear gap between the leaders and the teams at the bottom.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) are the team to beat right now. They are at the top of the table with 13 points from seven games. Their secret has been a mix of well-functioning bowling unit led by captain Shreyas Iyer and a very aggressive and deep batting, which has given them the best Net Run Rate (NRR) in the league.

Right behind them are Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and Rajasthan Royals (RR), who all have 10 points. RCB is in second place thanks to great form from Virat Kohli and their middle-order batters.

SRH have played 8 games and they have collected some winning momentum on the back of their aggressive batting style which helps them put runs on the board. Despite some struggle, their bowlers have done enough to keep them winning. Rajasthan are also on 10 points from 8 games, kept near the top by the amazing batting of young star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

In the middle of the table, the race has shifted. Gujarat Titans (GT) have pulled ahead of the pack with 8 points after finding their winning formula again. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Delhi Capitals (DC) are locked together with 6 points each.

While the Titans have managed to close out tight matches, CSK’s momentum has slowed, and they are now relying heavily on their superior Net Run Rate (NRR) from earlier wins to stay in the fifth spot.

At the bottom, the situation is becoming critical for the league's heavyweights. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) managed to move up to 5 points after a crucial Super Over victory against Lucknow, but they remain in a tough spot.

Mumbai Indians (MI) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are currently tied at the very bottom with just 4 points each. For KKR, MI, and LSG, the path to the playoffs now requires nearly a perfect run in their remaining games.

IPL 2026 Points Table

Looking toward the second half, Punjab Kings and RCB are the overwhelming favorites to secure the top two spots, given their current momentum and balanced squads.

Rajasthan Royals look safe for a playoff berth, while the final spot will likely be a three-way shootout between SRH, CSK, and a surging Gujarat Titans.

Conversely, the outlook is bleak for the bottom three; KKR and LSG are effectively in must-win-all territory, while Mumbai Indians would need a historic miracle—winning at least six of their remaining seven fixtures—to avoid an early exit. Expect the mid-table to remain volatile as NRR becomes the deciding factor in the final week of May.