Mumbai Indians kept their IPL 2026 playoffs hopes alive with a win in their home match against the Lucknow Super Giants. Here's how they can qualify for the playoffs.
IPL 2026: Updated points table after MI beat LSG
The win against the Lucknow Super Giants enabled the Mumbai Indians to hold on to ninth place. However, the three teams above them – Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders – not only have more points but also a game in hand. And all these teams are in the bottom five, who are at least four points behind the top five. MI’s situation looks dire.
| Team | M | W | L | T | N/R | PTS | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | 9 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 13 | +0.855 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | +1.420 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | +0.644 |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | +0.510 |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | -0.147 |
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | +0.005 |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | -0.895 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | 9 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 7 | -0.539 |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -0.649 |
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -1.076 |
What are MI’s remaining league fixtures in IPL 2026?
All timings local (IST)
May 10, 7.30pm: v Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Raipur
May 14, 7.30pm: v Punjab Kings, Dharamshala
May 20, 7.30pm: v Kolkata Knight Riders, Kolkata
May 24, 3.30pm: v Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai
How can MI qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs?
Four wins in four games will take MI to 14 points. While that does not guarantee qualification, a defeat will as good as eliminate them.
To make it to the playoffs, MI have to displace one (at least) of the incumbent top four. Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have a game in hand, so MI’s best bet is to displace one of Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals.
Thus, MI will want:
(1) PBKS and RCB to win all matches (other than the MI games), thereby harming the cause of all other teams.
(2) SRH and RR to lose all their remaining games (they don't play each other).
(3) Gujarat Titans to win all their remaining games (they face SRH, RR, KKR and CSK).
(4) In matches involving the other four teams in the bottom five, MI’s best bet lies in a win for the lower-placed team. This is to ensure no team breaks away from the lower cluster to catch up with MI.
If the four aforementioned conditions are met, PBKS, RCB and GT will qualify for the playoffs as the top three, while MI will finish fourth with 14 points. None of the other teams would be able to get to 14 points. There are other combinations as well, but this is perhaps the simplest and would likely keep net run-rate permutations away.
However, things will be nearly impossible for MI if they lose a point (let alone two points).
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