RCB make history with sixth Playoff spot since 2020 — PBKS vs RCB IPL 2026 in Dharamsala

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have become the very first team to qualify for the playoffs of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 as they earned a 23-run victory against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala, as it turned out to be their sixth Playoff qualification since 2020. 

RCB have been the most successful side in terms of reaching the Playoffs as they continue to dominate the other sides with better planning in the auction to structure a better-balanced side with both bat and ball in hand.

How Virat Kohli’s RCB went from three finals without a trophy to the most consistent playoff side in IPL 2020

It had been a good start to the IPL journey for the Virat Kohli side, who lost their first final in the very second edition of the event. They lost to Deccan Chargers in that do-or-die clash before experiencing the same fate against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium two years later.

In 2016, it felt like the stars had finally aligned for the ‘Play Bold’ army. They had a fairytale season but couldn’t repeat the same show in the final against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. After three defeats, their longest wait finally came to an end.

Bengaluru got the better of the Punjab side last year at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to earn the title, ending their long wait of 18 years.

The number that proves RCB are no longer ‘nearly men’ — Six qualifications and why 2026 feels different

Since the beginning of 2020, RCB has remained the most successful side of the IPL. They have earned 58 games in this duration out of 103 clashes at a win-loss ratio of 1.31. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Mumbai Indians (MI) are jointly at the second position with 48 wins at a W/L ratio of more than 0.90.

See Also: Kohli joins elite list — first batter to 1000+ runs vs 4 IPL teams

Their six playoffs in the last seven years speak about how they have managed to tick most of the boxes with the bat and ball in hand. They have been phenomenal under pressure in crunch moments.

With the bat, Kohli remains the second leading run-getter of the period with 3791 runs in 103 innings at an average of more than 44 and a strike rate of 138.55, thanks to four centuries and 31 half-centuries at the best score of 113*.

What RCB’s sixth Playoff entry in seven years means for their title chances — Which teams should be worried

RCB, with the victory over the Kings, is at the top of the points table. They have nine victories in 13 games at a net run rate of +1.065. They will aim to end the event on a high with a victory against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium and confirm their spot among the top two.

See Also: Watch: Even Thalapathy Vijay fans didn't expect this from Venkatesh Iyer

All teams should be worried about RCB’s form, especially their bowling unit of India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. Hyderabad, who can get among the top two of the points table, will need to be careful of the fierce unit.