Can Rajasthan Royals qualify for IPL 2026 Playoffs after beating LSG? Qualification scenarios explained

The Rajasthan Royals (RR) ended their three-match losing streak in the business end of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 with a much-needed victory over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur as they moved up to the fourth position of the points table. 

Due to Rajasthan’s victory, Punjab Kings (PBKS), who started their campaign with a six-match winning streak, slipped to the fifth position of the table and find themselves in a do-or-die situation of earning the victory in their last contest against the Rishabh Pant-led side in Lucknow. 

How RR’s win over LSG has completely changed their IPL 2026 Playoff equation

When the LSG opening pair of Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis shouldered them to a 109-run opening partnership thanks to 83 runs coming off the powerplay (1-6), it was expected to be a long night for the home side. Inglis was dismissed for 60 runs in 29 balls, thanks to seven boundaries and three sixes.

Marsh continued his onslaught till the end but missed out on his second century of the campaign by four runs as he finished with 96 runs in 57 balls, scoring 11 boundaries and five sixes. The Super Giants ended up with 220 runs on the board for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

Rajasthan went off to a flying start as their stand-in captain, Yashasvi Jaiswal, nailed a dashing knock of 43 runs off 23 balls. But Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stole the limelight again as he bashed 93 runs in just 38 balls at a strike rate of 244.74, thanks to seven boundaries and 10 sixes.

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India's Dhruv Jurel also celebrated his fine half-century as the Royals completed the chase by seven wickets with five balls to spare. Their victory has spiced up the qualification scenarios of the IPL 2026.

RR can still make the top 4 —Here’s the exact points table scenario that keeps Rajasthan Royals in the Playoff race after beating LSG

With the seven-wicket victory, the Royals moved to the fourth position of the points table with a net run rate (NRR) of +0.083. Three sides, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and Gujarat Titans (GT), are the three sides to qualify for the playoffs so far, as the eyes remain on the fourth spot.

Rajasthan’s final game of the season will be against the Mumbai Indians (MI) on May 24 at the Wankhede Stadium. If PBKS beat LSG on May 23, then the MI clash will become a do-or-die clash for the inaugural champions. 

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However, they can still go through with their current 14 points if several other results go their way. The Riyan Parag-led side will want PBKS, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and the Delhi Capitals (DC) to lose their matches.

Meanwhile, they will also want the Mumbai Indians (MI) to get over the line against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on May 20 at the Eden Gardens. Only KKR, standing on 11 with two games to go, can cross RR’s 14 points in that case.