IPL 2026 points table rules and playoff qualification: live tracker for the top four race
The IPL 2026 points table rules and playoff qualification will be tracked as a live leaderboard from the opening match, with the top-four race shifting after every result. Teams get 2 points for a win and 1 point for a no-result, and the top four teams qualify for the playoffs.
That means every match can move a side up, down, or back into contention. The table tracks matches played, wins, losses, net run rate and points earned, so the standings will keep changing as the tournament unfolds.
Points table rules at a glance
| Metric | What it means |
|---|---|
| Matches played | Total games completed |
| Wins | Each win adds 2 points |
| Losses | Each loss adds 0 points |
| No-result | Each no-result adds 1 point |
| Net run rate | Tie-breaker when teams are level on points |
| Points | Total used to rank the live leaderboard |
Qualification tracker
| Position | What it means | Playoff impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Leading the live table | Safe for now |
| 2nd | Inside the top four | Safe for now |
| 3rd | Inside the top four | Safe for now |
| 4th | Last place inside the cut-off | Inside the race |
| 5th | First team outside the cut-off | Needs results to go their way |
| 6th or lower | Outside the cut-off line | Chasing the top four |
NRR is the separator when teams are tied on points. If the wins and no-results stack up evenly, that number can decide who stays above the cut-off.
Fixture context: first 20 confirmed matches
These are the first 20 confirmed matches, and they are the early fixtures most likely to shift the table fast. The opening stretch includes venues across Bengaluru, Mumbai, Jaipur, Mohali, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.
| Match | Date | Time (IST) | Teams | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match 1 | Sat Mar 28 | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Match 2 | Sun Mar 29 | 7:30 PM | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Match 3 | Mon Mar 30 | 7:30 PM | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Match 4 | Tue Mar 31 | 7:30 PM | Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants | Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali |
| Match 5 | Wed Apr 1 | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
| Match 6 | Thu Apr 2 | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Match 7 | Fri Apr 3 | 7:30 PM | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad |
| Match 8 | Sat Apr 4 | 3:30 PM | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Match 9 | Sat Apr 4 | 7:30 PM | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Match 10 | Sun Apr 5 | 3:30 PM | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad |
| Match 11 | Sun Apr 5 | 7:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Match 12 | Mon Apr 6 | 7:30 PM | Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali |
| Match 13 | Tue Apr 7 | 7:30 PM | Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Match 14 | Wed Apr 8 | 7:30 PM | Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Match 15 | Thu Apr 9 | 7:30 PM | Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Match 16 | Fri Apr 10 | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| Match 17 | Sat Apr 11 | 7:30 PM | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Match 18 | Sun Apr 12 | 3:30 PM | Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Match 19 | Sun Apr 12 | 7:30 PM | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
| Match 20 | Mon Apr 13 | 7:30 PM | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad |
The first double-header weekend comes on Sat Apr 4 and Sun Apr 5, which is where the table can move quickly. Two matches in a day mean two chances for teams to add points, and that can shuffle the top four before the week is over.
A win moves a team to 2 points, while a no-result still adds 1 point. When teams are level on points, net run rate is the tie-breaker that can separate the sides above and below the cut-off.
Live leaderboard watch
This is the live thread to follow as the standings update after every match. If current standings are mentioned before a live table is supplied, the figures are still emerging.
The top four stay in the playoff spots, and everyone else is chasing the cut-off. With the first 20 matches spread across the confirmed venues, the race can change fast from one result to the next.