KKR qualification scenario explained [source: AP]It seems like KKR has found a winning formula in the IPL 2026 as the franchise has won three games in a row, with the latest victory being against the high-flying Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday afternoon. It was a total domination as the Ajinkya Rahane-led side dismantled SRH to win the match by 7 wickets.After losing the toss, KKR were put into bowl, and initially, their bowlers looked lethargic as Travis Head took down their attack with ease. However, once he was dismissed, the KKR bowlers choked the runs, and took wickets at regular intervals to bundle out SRH for 165.In reply, the former IPL winners faced hiccups, but the target was chased with relative ease as the Rahane-led side has three wins on the trot. However, their path towards the IPL 2026 playoffs is still not easy, and here is what the Kolkata-based side has to do to qualify for the playoffs.How can KKR qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs after victory vs SRHThe same franchise that failed to secure a single win in their opening six matches, now have three wins in a row, and with the latest victory, KKR have 3 wins in nine matches, and the Rahane-led side now has 7 points. They remain at the eighth position, but the IPL 2026 playoff qualification remains in their hands.SeasonSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TablePointsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table2022 SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table16 pointsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table2023 SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table16 pointsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table2024 SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table14 points (on net run-rate)SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table2025 SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table16 pointsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableLooking at the above data, teams minimum need 16 points to qualify for the IPL playoffs. KKR currently has 7 points, and if they win the next 5 games, they'll end up with 17 points, which should be good enough for them to reach the knockouts.Assuming that they lose at least one of their remaining games, then, the net run-rate would come into play. Currently the team has a net run-rate of -0.539, and from now on, the franchise must have two objectives- win their matches, and improve the net run-rate, which is in the negative at the moment.Finishing with 15 points could be troublesome for them as KKR's net run-rate is not that good. However, 17 points should guarantee them a place in the playoffs.Also Read: Sunil Narine Reaches New Heights In IPLWhat are KKR's remaining games in IPL 2026?After an emphatic win over the Sunrisers Hyderabad, KKR still has a mountain to climb, and the franchise has 5 matches remaining in the ongoing IPL 2026, and the Knight Riders cannot allow a slip in those crucial games.Match no.SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableTeamSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableDate & Time (IST)SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableVenueSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table51SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableDCMay 8, 7:30 PMArun Jaitley StadiumSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table57SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableRCBMay 13, 7:30 PMShaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket StadiumSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table60SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableGTMay 16, 7:30 PMEden GardensSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table65SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableMIMay 20, 7:30 PMEden GardensSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table70SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableDCMay 24, 7:30 PMEden GardensSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table(KKR remaining schedule for IPL 2026)The Kolkata Knight Riders will still have to play 5 matches in the tournament, and out of those, the next two will be away from home, and their last three IPL 2026 contests will be played at home, Eden Gardens, Kolkata.KKR top performers in IPL 2026It has been a mixed season for the three-time IPL winners, as they have blown hot and cold in the competition. They lost 5 of their first six IPL 2026 games (one being washed out), and it was their seventh contest where the franchise tasted victory.So far, KKR have not witnessed too many match-winners in the side, but there have been quite a few who have chipped in with wickets and runs. Star batter, Angkrish Raghuvanshi has two fifties in the tournament so far, and apart from him, Rinku Singh has also chipped in with match-winning runs.With the ball, Sunil Narine, and Varun Chakaravarthy have done well, with Kartik Tyagi performing well in patches.Also Read: "This Is Why His Wife Left": Virender Sehwag Hit Below The Belt For 'No Knowledge' Mistake
