Overview
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru, which beat Punjab Kings by 23 runs on Sunday in Dharamsala, became the first side to secure a place in the 2026 IPL playoffs.
- Virat Kohli scored 58 and Venkatesh Iyer was 73 not out as RCB posted 222 for four, then Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck early to hold PBKS to 199 for eight.
- Punjab’s sixth straight loss left them on 13 points from 13 matches with a narrow path that requires a final-game win and help from other results plus net run rate.
- Following Sunday night’s chase of 194 in Delhi, the Capitals beat Rajasthan Royals by five wickets to stay alive, and Rajasthan slipped to sixth in the table.
- Gujarat Titans missed an earlier chance to seal qualification after losing to Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday, while Sai Sudharsan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar top the Orange and Purple Cap lists.