IPL 2026 Playoffs: Teams, Schedule, Venues, Timings and Format. The IPL 2026 playoffs are officially set after a thrilling league stage. Four former champions have secured qualification for the knockout round. Royal Challengers Bengaluru topped the table with 18 points after a dominant campaign. Gujarat Titans finished second with another impressive season. Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals completed the top four after dramatic final league matches. Rajasthan Royals sealed qualification with a crucial victory over Mumbai. This year’s playoffs carry a special storyline. All four qualified teams have lifted the IPL trophy exactly once in their history.
RCB ended their long wait by winning their maiden IPL title in 2025. GT stunned the league by winning the championship in their debut season in 2022. Sunrisers Hyderabad won the trophy in 2016. Rajasthan Royals famously won the inaugural IPL edition in 2008 under the captaincy of the late Shane Warne. The IPL 2026 playoffs will now guarantee the rise of a new two-time champion.
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IPL 2026 Playoff Format
The IPL follows the Page playoff system, rewarding the top two teams with an additional opportunity to reach the final. The winner of Qualifier 1 advances directly to the final. The losing side receives another chance through Qualifier 2. The Eliminator is a knockout clash between the third- and fourth-placed teams. The losing team exits the tournament immediately.
IPL 2026 Playoff Schedule, Venues, Timings
| Match | Teams | Date | Time (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifier 1 | RCB vs GT | May 26, 2026 | 7:30 PM | HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala |
| Eliminator | SRH vs RR | May 27, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur |
| Qualifier 2 | Qualifier 1 Loser vs Eliminator Winner | May 29, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur |
| Final | Qualifier 1 Winner vs Qualifier 2 Winner | May 31, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
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RCB and GT will clash in Dharamshala for a direct place in the Ahmedabad final. SRH and RR must survive the Eliminator to keep title hopes alive. The Narendra Modi Stadium will host its fourth IPL final. The world’s largest cricket stadium is expected to witness a packed crowd.