Royal Challengers Bengaluru through IPL

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are already through to the IPL 2026 playoffs, and the latest movement in the race came on Tuesday, May 20, when Rajasthan Royals climbed into the top four. The IPL’s own playoff-race update said RCB, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans have all confirmed qualification, leaving one berth still open. Rajasthan’s rise followed a seven-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur. ESPNcricinfo’s live coverage and other match reports said RR chased 221, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scoring 93 off 38 balls, to move to 14 points and intensify the fight for the last spot. ### When did Royal Challengers Bengaluru seal their place? (ipl.com) Royal Challengers Bengaluru qualified on May 17 with a 23-run win over Punjab Kings in Dharamsala. Match reports said the defending champions reached 18 points from 13 matches, enough to secure a playoff place before the final round of league games. (espncricinfo.com) The IPL’s official playoff-race page published on May 20 listed RCB among the three qualified teams and said they remained in contention for a top-two finish. That means the social-media framing of Bengaluru as merely “through contenders” understated their position: they are already in the playoffs. ### Did Gujarat Titans “nearly” qualify, or are they already in? (cricketworld.com) Gujarat Titans are also already qualified, according to the IPL’s official update and multiple playoff-scenario reports published on May 19 and May 20. Yahoo’s scenario piece said RCB, Gujarat and Sunrisers Hyderabad had secured playoff spots, while the IPL site said Gujarat had “confirmed qualification.” (ipl.com) That differs from some social posts suggesting Gujarat were only close to sealing a place. Based on the available reporting on May 20, Gujarat are not just near the line; they are over it. ### How did Rajasthan Royals change the table? Rajasthan Royals entered the top four after beating Lucknow in Jaipur on Tuesday. Yahoo and Times of India said the win took RR to 14 points, while ESPNcricinfo’s live report said Sooryavanshi’s 93 set up the successful chase of 221. (sports.yahoo.com) The IPL’s official update said Rajasthan moved to fourth after that result, while five teams remained mathematically alive for the final berth. (sports.yahoo.com) Those teams were Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals. ### Where do Sunrisers Hyderabad fit into the picture? Sunrisers Hyderabad joined the qualified teams after beating Chennai Super Kings by five wickets at Chepauk on May 18. (sports.yahoo.com) ESPNcricinfo’s scorecard showed CSK made 180 for 7 and SRH reached 181 for 5, with Ishan Kishan scoring 70. The Economic Times and other reports said that result confirmed Sunrisers’ playoff place and left Chennai needing other outcomes to stay in contention. (ipl.com) Pat Cummins was credited in those reports with helping restrict CSK before the chase. (espncricinfo.com) ### Which teams are still fighting for the last place? Five teams remain alive for one playoff berth as of May 20: Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals. Yahoo’s playoff-scenarios report said Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians are out, while Rajasthan are in a strong position after moving into fourth. (economictimes.indiatimes.com) The next step is the remaining league matches that will decide the fourth qualifier and the order of the top four. The IPL’s official playoff-race page and current points-table updates are the clearest places to track those outcomes as the league stage closes. (ipl.com) (sports.yahoo.com)