Rajasthan Royals must-win vs Mumbai Indians

Rajasthan Royals enter the last day of the IPL 2026 league stage with their qualification equation reduced to one result. ESPNcricinfo reported that a win over Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday would send Rajasthan into the playoffs, regardless of what follows elsewhere. Punjab Kings have already completed their schedule and sit in the race for the final berth, while Kolkata Knight Riders remain alive heading into their own match later in the day. NDTV Profit reported that weather in Mumbai was unlikely to disrupt the game, leaving Rajasthan with the chance to settle the race on the field. ### Why is this match the one that decides Rajasthan’s season? ESPNcricinfo said Rajasthan are “in control of their own fate” because the team can clinch the fourth and final playoff spot with a victory over Mumbai Indians on May 24. That left Rajasthan with the cleanest route among the remaining contenders after Punjab Kings beat Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday night. Punjab Kings finished their part of the race on 15 points, according to ESPNcricinfo’s playoff scenarios. Rajasthan entered Sunday still able to overtake that line with a win, while Kolkata Knight Riders needed both their own result and help from elsewhere. ### Which Rajasthan players were cleared before the decider? (espncricinfo.com) ESPNcricinfo reported in its match preview that Riyan Parag and Ravindra Jadeja were fit for Rajasthan ahead of Sunday’s game. That removed two immediate availability questions before the team’s last league-stage fixture. (espncricinfo.com) The same preview framed the stakes directly: Rajasthan’s “only chance of going through is with a win over MI.” That left little room for net run rate calculations in their own match, even as those remained relevant for other teams in the race. ### What are Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders waiting for? (espncricinfo.com) Punjab Kings can only watch on Sunday after completing their 14 matches, ESPNcricinfo reported. Their qualification hopes depend first on Rajasthan failing to beat Mumbai Indians, and then on how Kolkata fare against Delhi Capitals. (espncricinfo.com) Kolkata Knight Riders still have a route, but ESPNcricinfo’s scenarios said it requires both a win over Delhi Capitals and favorable results around net run rate and Rajasthan’s outcome. That made the Mumbai-Rajasthan game the first checkpoint in the three-team contest. ### Is weather likely to interfere at Wankhede? (espncricinfo.com) NDTV Profit reported on Sunday that current forecasts suggested Rajasthan were likely to get a full game against Mumbai at Wankhede Stadium. The outlet said weather was unlikely to deny Rajasthan the chance to decide qualification in a complete match. (espncricinfo.com) Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is scheduled to host the day game before Kolkata’s match against Delhi later Sunday. With the forecast holding, the playoff race was set to be decided by results rather than a washout calculation. ### What should readers watch once the match begins? (ndtvprofit.com) ESPNcricinfo’s live coverage listed the fixture as the 69th match of IPL 2026 at Wankhede on May 24. A Rajasthan win would end the playoff race immediately, while any other result would keep Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in contention heading into the later game between Kolkata and Delhi Capitals. (ndtvprofit.com) Sunday’s sequence is therefore fixed: Mumbai Indians host Rajasthan Royals first at Wankhede, and Kolkata Knight Riders meet Delhi Capitals later in the day. By the end of those matches, the IPL’s fourth playoff team will be known. (espncricinfo.com)