IPL 2026 | Explained: How can RCB be knocked out of top-two by SRH?

A massive win for SRH will propel them into the top-two, ahead of RCB.

Ahead of their last league-stage encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, on Friday (May 22), Royal Challengers Bengaluru sit comfortably at the top of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 table with nine wins in 13 matches.

Though tied at 18 points with Gujarat Titans, the defending champions have a superior Net Run Rate (NRR) and the franchise will be eyeing a top-two finish in consecutive seasons.

With a NRR of 1.067, RCB are firm favourites to play Gujarat Titans in the Qualifier 1 at Dharamshala. However, mathematically they can still be dislodged from the top as a massive win for SRH will propel them into the top-two, ahead of the Bengaluru-based franchise.

What SRH needs to qualify in top-two

The equation for SRH is straight forward. If they are chasing, a target over 162, they need to hunt it down in 11.1 overs. and if the target is under that number, they need to finish the match within 11 overs.

If SRH bats first and set a target, they need to win by at least 83 runs if the target is between 83 runs and 106 runs. If the range is from 107 runs to 130 runs, they need to win by 84 runs.

Similarly for a score between 131 and 155, a win of 85 runs is needed and an 86-run win is needed for a score between 156 and 179.

More realistically, a target between 180 and 204 will need them to win by 87 runs and for a score ranging from 205 to 228 will need an 88-run win. Anything above will require a win by 89 runs and over.

Only a crushing defeat will move RCB from the top-two with the NRR coming into play.

Why does a top-two finish matter?

According to the playoffs format of the IPL, the teams finishing first and second get another chance of playing the final. While the winner of Qualifier 1 goes straight through to the final, the loser will play the Qualifier 2 for a another shot at the big game.

The teams finishing three and four have a longer route to the final. They first play the Eliminator. A win there would mean they face the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2. A loss in the Eliminator results means it is curtains to their campaign.