The IPL 2026 season is narrowing fast.
Ten teams began the tournament. Four will reach the playoffs.
The other six pack up when the league stage ends, and for two of them, that reality has already landed.
Teams Eliminated From the IPL 2026 Playoffs Race
Here is the current list of teams eliminated from the IPL 2026 playoffs race, with the results that confirmed their exits.
IPL 2026: Teams Out of Playoff Contention
1. Lucknow Super Giants
Out since: May 10, 2026
LSG’s elimination was less a surprise and more a formality by the time it arrived.
They came into the CSK match at MA Chidambaram having already lost seven of ten games. A 203-run total gave them a chance. Chennai took it down with five wickets in hand.
Eight losses from 11 games. Bottom of the table. Rishabh Pant’s side never put together enough consecutive wins to stay in the conversation.
2. Mumbai Indians
Out since: May 10, 2026
MI’s exit was harder to watch because they were so close.
They posted 166 against RCB, bowled well enough to defend it, and still lost by two wickets. A thin margin, but the same result. Their IPL 2026 campaign ended on the same night as LSG’s.
It is a familiar story for Mumbai this year. Good individual performances, not enough wins. Hardik Pandya’s team finishes outside the top four for a second straight season.
How the IPL Playoff System Works?
The top four teams from the league stage qualify.
Here is the knockout structure:
| Stage | Teams | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifier 1 | 1st vs 2nd | Winner advances to final |
| Eliminator | 3rd vs 4th | Loser is eliminated |
| Qualifier 2 | Q1 loser vs Eliminator winner | Winner advances to final |
| Final | Q1 winner vs Q2 winner | IPL 2026 title decided |
Finishing first or second offers a second chance if you lose Qualifier 1.
Third and fourth place must win every game from the Eliminator onwards.
Who Is Still Alive?
Eight teams remain in the running as of May 11. Some are close to confirming their spot.
Others need wins quickly, or they risk joining LSG and MI on the outside.
The next round of results will start to separate the qualifiers from the eliminated.
FAQs
- How many teams get knocked out before the IPL 2026 playoffs?
Six teams are eliminated at the end of the league stage. Only the top four qualify for the knockout rounds.
- Why did Lucknow Super Giants get eliminated?
LSG lost eight of 11 league games. Their May 10 defeat to CSK was the result that made elimination official.
Could Mumbai Indians have qualified before their last game?
Yes, they had a slim mathematical chance heading into the RCB match. The two-wicket loss ended that.
- Does net run rate affect elimination in IPL 2026?
NRR does not directly eliminate teams. It is used as a tiebreaker when two or more sides finish on equal points.
- When will more teams be eliminated?
As the league stage concludes, teams whose path to a top-four finish is mathematically closed will be confirmed as eliminated.
Conclusion
LSG and MI are out of IPL 2026. The season is over for two teams, with eight others still chasing four spots.
Watch the points table over the coming days as more sides are either confirmed or knocked out.
About the Author
