The IPL 2026 league stage is running out of games.
Every match now counts, and for two teams, the counting is already over.
Ten sides started this season. Only four will play in the playoffs.
The rest go home when the league stage ends.
Two franchises have already been officially eliminated from the IPL 2026 playoffs race.
Teams Eliminated From the IPL 2026 Playoffs Race
Here’s who they are and how it happened.
Full List: Teams Eliminated From the IPL 2026 Playoffs Race
1. Lucknow Super Giants (Eliminated: May 10)
LSG were the first side to be knocked out of IPL 2026.
Their exit was confirmed after a heavy defeat to Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
LSG posted 203, a total that should have been competitive. CSK chased it down with five wickets to spare.
It capped a miserable season for Rishabh Pant’s side. Eight losses from 11 games, rock bottom of the table.
There was no single match that cost them. It was a string of them.
2. Mumbai Indians (Eliminated: May 10)
MI followed LSG out the door on the same evening.
Against RCB, they set a target of 167. It was a game they could have won.
But RCB got there with two wickets left, ending Mumbai’s campaign with it.
It has been a season of near-misses for Hardik Pandya’s side. The squad looked good on paper.
In practice, too many games slipped away by small margins.
How IPL Playoffs Qualification Works?
Four teams make it through from the league stage. Here is the knockout structure:
| Stage | Matchup | What’s at Stake |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifier 1 | 1st vs 2nd | The winner reaches the final directly |
| Eliminator | 3rd vs 4th | Loser exits, winner plays on |
| Qualifier 2 | Q1 loser vs Eliminator winner | Final spot up for grabs |
| Final | Q1 winner vs Q2 winner | IPL 2026 title |
Finishing in the top two gives a team two chances to reach the final. Third and fourth place must win back-to-back knockout games.
Who Still Has a Chance?
Eight teams remain in contention as of May 11.
The race for the top four is still open, and the points table will keep shifting with every result.
A few more teams could be eliminated in the coming days, depending on the results.
Keep an eye on the standings.
FAQs
- How many teams get eliminated in IPL 2026?
Six teams are eliminated at the end of the league stage. Only four advance to the playoffs.
- Why were Lucknow Super Giants eliminated?
LSG lost eight of their 11 games, including a five-wicket defeat to CSK on May 10 that officially ended their season.
- What happens to teams that finish 3rd and 4th?
They enter the Eliminator. The winner plays Qualifier 2 for a final spot. One wrong result and they’re out.
- Is there any way back for eliminated teams?
No. Once a team is mathematically out of the top four, they cannot qualify regardless of remaining results.
Conclusion:
LSG and MI are done for IPL 2026. Two teams down, six more still fighting for four spots.
The playoff picture will become clearer over the next week as the league stage wraps up.
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