Playoff permutations loom over season's final league clash between KKR and DC

Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals will head into the final league stage match of IPL 2026 on Sunday with uncertainty hanging over their playoff hopes and the possibility that the contest could become irrelevant even before the first ball is bowled at the Eden Gardens here.

- TRIDIB BAPARNASH

Much of that depends on Punjab Kings’ clash against Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday. Punjab are currently ahead in the race for the final playoff berth and a win for them would officially knock Delhi Capitals out of contention. KKR would still remain mathematically alive with a possible 15 points, but their qualification chances would then depend heavily on net run rate.

The equation is complicated for three-time champions KKR. Even if Punjab scrape past LSG by an arrow margin, Kolkata would still need a huge win over Delhi to close the gap in net run rate. An LSG victory, however, would keep both KKR and DC alive heading into Sunday.