Based on the current IPL 2026 points table (May 5, 2026), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are the favourites to win the trophy, supported by the league’s best Net Run Rate (+1.420), Virat Kohli’s form, and a settled defending-champion squad. The predicted top four playoff qualifiers are Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Last updated: May 5, 2026 | Sources: ESPNcricinfo, IPLT20.com (official), Business Standard, Wikipedia
Who Will Win IPL 2026?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the predicted winners of IPL 2026. Three factors drive this pick:
- RCB hold the highest Net Run Rate in the league at +1.420, providing a tiebreaker advantage in case of equal points.
- Virat Kohli has scored 379 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 165, returning to peak form.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar leads the Purple Cap race with 17 wickets in nine matches, anchoring a balanced bowling attack.
If RCB win, it will be back-to-back IPL titles for the franchise after their maiden championship in IPL 2025.
What Is the IPL 2026 Points Table as of May 5, 2026?
Below is the current standings table after 47 league matches.
| Rank | Team | P | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR |
| 1 | Punjab Kings (PBKS) | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 13 | +1.043 |
| 2 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 12 | +1.420 |
| 3 | Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 12 | +0.832 |
| 4 | Rajasthan Royals (RR) | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 12 | +0.510 |
| 5 | Gujarat Titans (GT) | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 10 | -0.192 |
| 6 | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 8 | +0.005 |
| 7 | Delhi Capitals (DC) | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 8 | -0.895 |
| 8 | Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 7 | -0.751 |
| 9 | Mumbai Indians (MI) | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 4 | -0.803 |
| 10 | Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 | -1.106 |
Key insight: Only one point separates the teams ranked 2nd to 5th. Net Run Rate will be the decisive tiebreaker.
Which Teams Will Qualify for the IPL 2026 Playoffs?
The four teams predicted to qualify are:
- Punjab Kings — Currently top with 13 points and a strong NRR cushion.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru — Best NRR in the league at +1.420.
- Gujarat Titans — In the form of the tournament with three consecutive wins.
- Sunrisers Hyderabad — Explosive batting line-up; need only two more wins from four.
Most likely to miss out: Rajasthan Royals, despite being level with RCB and SRH on points, will likely be edged out due to their lower NRR of +0.510.
Team-by-Team IPL 2026 Analysis
Punjab Kings (PBKS): The Front-Runners
- Standings: 1st, 13 points, NRR +1.043
- Recent form: Two losses in a row, most recently a four-wicket defeat to Gujarat Titans on May 3 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Key players: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Marcus Stoinis, Arshdeep Singh
- Strengths: Deep batting line-up, strong NRR cushion, consistent home form
- Weaknesses: Bowling exposed in two consecutive matches; failed to defend 163 against GT
- Verdict: Very likely to qualify. Even with two more losses, 17-18 points should secure a top-four finish.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): The Defending Champions
- Standings: 2nd, 12 points, NRR +1.420 (highest in the league)
- Recent form: Six wins in nine matches
- Key players: Virat Kohli (379 runs, SR 165), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (17 wickets), Rajat Patidar (captain)
- Strengths: Best NRR in the tournament, balanced squad, peaking Kohli
- Weaknesses: Three losses already; cannot afford a slump
- Verdict: Top-two contenders. NRR alone could push them above SRH and RR in tiebreakers.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): The Streak-Snapped Powerhouse
- Standings: 3rd, 12 points, NRR +0.832
- Recent form: Five-match winning streak ended by KKR on May 3; bowled out for 165 at home
- Key players: Abhishek Sharma (440 runs, Orange Cap leader), Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen (425 runs), Eshan Malinga (15 wickets)
- Strengths: Most explosive batting line-up in the league
- Weaknesses: Quality spin has exposed the middle order; bowled out for the first time this season
- Verdict: Strong qualifier candidate. Two wins from four remaining games likely to be enough.
Rajasthan Royals (RR): The Wildcard
- Standings: 4th, 12 points, NRR +0.510
- Recent form: Six wins in ten matches
- Key players: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (404 runs, SR 237.65), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jofra Archer (15 wickets), Sanju Samson (captain)
- Strengths: Game-changing batters at the top, world-class bowling spearhead
- Weaknesses: Lowest NRR among the 12-point teams; vulnerable in tiebreaker scenarios
- Verdict: On the bubble. Likely need three wins from four remaining games to be safe.
Gujarat Titans (GT): The Resurgent Dark Horse
- Standings: 5th, 10 points, NRR -0.192
- Recent form: Three consecutive wins, including a four-wicket victory over PBKS
- Key players: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (captain), Jason Holder (4/24 vs PBKS), Kagiso Rabada (14 wickets), Washington Sundar
- Strengths: Best in-form team; bowling depth led by Holder and Rabada
- Weaknesses: Negative NRR is a problem in tiebreaker scenarios; risk-averse batting style
- Verdict: Strong playoff contender. Most likely team to break into the top four from outside it.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK): Hanging On
- Standings: 6th, 8 points, NRR +0.005
- Recent form: Beat MI in the El Clasico on May 2
- Key players: Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Anshul Kamboj (17 wickets, joint Purple Cap lead), MS Dhoni
- Strengths: Balanced bowling unit, strong home record at Chepauk
- Weaknesses: Bowling all-rounder Ramakrishna Ghosh ruled out with a foot fracture; need to win nearly all remaining games
- Verdict: Outside chance. Realistically need five wins from five and other results to fall their way.
Delhi Capitals (DC): Stalled
- Standings: 7th, 8 points, NRR -0.895
- Recent form: Inconsistent
- Key players: KL Rahul (433 runs, SR 185.84)
- Strengths: Rahul’s form has been outstanding
- Weaknesses: Worst NRR among playoff hopefuls; bowling coach Munaf Patel has stated they need to win every remaining match
- Verdict: Must-win mode. The CSK match on May 5 is essentially a knockout.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): The Late Bloomer
- Standings: 8th, 7 points, NRR -0.751
- Recent form: Three consecutive wins, including beating SRH by seven wickets on May 3
- Key players: Sunil Narine (200 IPL wickets – third bowler ever to reach this milestone), Varun Chakravarthy (3/36 vs SRH), Rinku Singh, Cameron Green, Ajinkya Rahane (captain)
- Strengths: Spin twins back to dominant form; momentum
- Weaknesses: Only 7 points after 9 games; even five straight wins may not lift NRR enough
- Verdict: Long shot, but dangerous to face. Need to win nearly all remaining games and depend on multiple teams above slipping up.
Mumbai Indians (MI): Pulse Detected
- Standings: 9th, 4 points, NRR -0.803
- Recent form: Chased 229 against LSG on May 4 to win by six wickets
- Key players: Ryan Rickelton (rising on Orange Cap table), Hardik Pandya (captain), Jasprit Bumrah
- Strengths: Rickelton’s consistency at Wankhede
- Weaknesses: Suryakumar Yadav out of form; Bumrah’s IPL 2026 numbers below his usual standard
- Verdict: Almost out. Realistically need five wins from five with significant margins.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): All But Out
- Standings: 10th, 4 points, NRR -1.106
- Recent form: Lost to MI on May 4 despite scoring 228/5
- Key players: Rishabh Pant (captain, struggling for form)
- Verdict: Eliminated for all practical purposes.
Who Are the Top Performers in IPL 2026?
IPL 2026 Orange Cap Standings (Most Runs)
| Player | Team | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate |
| Abhishek Sharma | SRH | 10 | 440 | 48.89 | 206.57 |
| KL Rahul | DC | 9 | 433 | 54.12 | 185.84 |
| Heinrich Klaasen | SRH | 10 | 425 | 53.12 | 156.83 |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | RR | 10 | 404 | 40.40 | 237.65 |
| Virat Kohli | RCB | 9 | 379 | 54.14 | 165.50 |
IPL 2026 Purple Cap Standings (Most Wickets)
| Player | Team | Matches | Wickets | Average |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB | 9 | 17 | 15.53 |
| Anshul Kamboj | CSK | 9 | 17 | 15.82 |
| Jofra Archer | RR | 10 | 15 | 21.27 |
| Eshan Malinga | SRH | 10 | 15 | 18.93 |
| Kagiso Rabada | GT | 9 | 14 | 24.14 |
What Is the Predicted IPL 2026 Playoff Bracket?
Based on current form, NRR, and remaining fixtures:
- Qualifier 1: Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru -> RCB win (NRR cushion and Kohli factor)
- Eliminator: Gujarat Titans vs Sunrisers Hyderabad -> GT win (bowling depth on slow May surfaces)
- Qualifier 2: Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans -> GT win (form team beats nervy front-runners)
- Final: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans -> RCB win the title
What Are the Three Storylines That Will Decide IPL 2026?
- Can Punjab’s bowling hold up? Their last two losses came when bowlers could not defend or restrict. Fix this and they are champions; ignore it and they fall away.
- Will Gujarat Titans’ form translate to NRR? Bowling-first teams win games but rarely fatten Net Run Rate. Finishing on 16 points with a negative NRR could leave them squeezed out.
- Can KKR engineer a 2014-style comeback? History supports them – they once made the playoffs after starting 1-4 and went on to win the title. A five-game winning streak from here would change the league’s mathematics.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is leading the IPL 2026 points table?
Punjab Kings lead the IPL 2026 points table with 13 points from 8 matches (6 wins, 1 loss, 1 no-result), with a Net Run Rate of +1.043.
Who is the predicted IPL 2026 winner?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the predicted IPL 2026 winners, based on their league-best Net Run Rate of +1.420, Virat Kohli’s batting form, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s leadership of the Purple Cap race.
Which four teams will qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs?
The four predicted qualifiers are Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Who holds the Orange Cap in IPL 2026?
Abhishek Sharma of Sunrisers Hyderabad holds the Orange Cap with 440 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 206.57.
Who holds the Purple Cap in IPL 2026?
Bhuvneshwar Kumar of Royal Challengers Bengaluru leads the Purple Cap with 17 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 15.53. Anshul Kamboj of CSK is tied on 17 wickets.
When does the IPL 2026 final take place?
The IPL 2026 final is scheduled for May 31, 2026.
How many teams play in IPL 2026?
Ten teams compete in IPL 2026, playing a total of 74 matches across the league stage and playoffs.
Final Verdict: Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Win IPL 2026
The combination of the league’s best Net Run Rate, a Kohli in vintage form, the Purple Cap leader in their bowling attack, and a settled defending-champion squad makes RCB the strongest title contender as of May 5, 2026.
Dark horse pick: Gujarat Titans, fuelled by three consecutive wins, captain Shubman Gill’s leadership, and an underrated bowling unit led by Jason Holder and Kagiso Rabada.
