How Can KKR Topple PBKS On Points Table To Qualify For IPL 2026 Playoffs?

How can KKR reach IPL 2026 playoffs? [Source: AFP]Punjab Kings’ 7-wicket win over the Lucknow Super Giants on the penultimate day of IPL 2026 league phase has just made the race to the playoffs very interesting, as two matches are yet to be played on Sunday, May 24.On the final day, the Rajasthan Royals will face the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, and the Kolkata Knight Riders will host the Delhi Capitals in the evening. RR and KKR are still alive in the tournament, while PBKS’ win has officially knocked DC out before their trip to Kolkata. As PBKS momentarily moves up to number 4 on the points table, we take a look at the margin of win required for KKR to qualify for the Eliminator. How can KKR qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs after PBKS’ win vs LSG? First and foremost, for KKR to qualify for the Eliminator of IPL 2026, they will want the Mumbai Indians to do them a favour and defeat the Rajasthan Royals in the afternoon clash. This would mean only PBKS and KKR will remain in contention for the final spot in the playoffs, and KKR will face DC in a must-win game. To go through to the next round after a potential MI win, KKR will need to win by the following margins.Batting first Win against DC by 77 runs if they score 200 runs in the first innings, i.e., restrict DC to 123. Batting second In case DC scores 180 runs in the first innings, KKR will need to chase the score in around 12 to 12.4 overs. Also Read: Watch- Prabhsimran Singh Recreates MS Dhoni's Iconic Stumping In IPL 2026Shreyas Iyer’s masterclass ends PBKS’ losing streak In a must-win match at the Ekana Stadium, captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first against an in-form LSG top-order. Courtesy of a complete bowling performance, led by 2/25 for Yuzvendra Chahal and 2/33 for Marco Jansen, LSG were restricted to 196/6 despite Josh Inglis’ 72 (44). In response, PBKS found themselves 22/2 in 2.2 overs when Shreyas Iyer walked in to bat, as he stitched a 140-run stand with Prabhsimran Singh. The latter scored 69(39) before he was dismissed by Arjun Tendulkar, but captain Iyer went on to complete his maiden IPL century, finishing with 101 off 51 with 11 fours and five sixes. With this 101-run knock, Iyer takes his season’s tally to 498 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 168.81. He has gotten five fifties and one century to his name this season. This is on the back of a 604-run season in their run to the IPL 2025 final. Notably, this is the first time PBKS have won a match since their win over the Delhi Capitals, where they chased down the mammoth total of 265 runs in Delhi. KKR to miss key team members vs DCSitting on 13 points after a poor start to the season, KKR would be elated to find themselves in a position where they stand an outside chance to finish in the top-4.However, ahead of the all-important match against DC at home, KKR will be without Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who was their leading run-getter this season with 422 runs in 12 innings. They could also be missing out on the services of Matheesha Pathirana after he suffered a calf injury on his KKR debut a few days back.Also Read: After Chinnaswamy Disaster, Bengaluru Invests ₹943 Crore Into Another Stadium Project