Playoff scenarios for all 5 teams in the WPL with only two of either GG, MI and DC likely to make the playoffs.
The WPL 2026 league round has just three games left, but only Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has guaranteed a spot in the postseason. All four of the remaining teams are vying for the final two playoff slots.
Despite suffering back-to-back losses after five straight victories, RCB looks certain to finish as the top team. RCB fell by just 15 runs on Monday thanks to Richa Ghosh’s 90-run effort against the Mumbai Indians.
The only club with a chance to score ten points, the Gujarat Giants, are trailing RCB by almost 160 runs in net run rate. Only a record-breaking loss for RCB to UP Warriorz or a victory for GG over MI will drop RCB to second place and force them to play the eliminator.
With eight points, GG is ranked second in the standings, but it’s still unclear if they will make the playoffs. Their final game versus MI has the potential to both write their demise and give them a chance to win the championship.
If GG wins by any margin, they will advance to the playoffs; but, if RCB loses to UPW, a record-breaking victory might put them in the WPL final for the first time.
However, if UPW had already defeated RCB by a respectable margin on Friday, even a close defeat versus MI might signal the end of GG’s campaign. If DC defeats UPW later, or if UPW wins two straight games to get eight points, GG will finish fourth. GG are ahead of UPW by about 55 runs on net run rate, but behind DC by only 15.
The WPL’s two-time winners wouldn’t have to worry too much about making the playoffs. Regardless of the outcome, MI will play the Eliminator if they claim two points from their most recent game versus GG. MI will like their chances ahead of a crucial match because they have an impeccable 8-0 record against GG in the WPL.
Given that they already have a higher run rate, MI will finish higher than GG if they defeat them on Friday. Out of DC and UPW, only one can reach eight points. Additionally, whoever ends with eight points would finish second, pushing GG out of the top three and guaranteeing MI’s third-place result if any of them is able to surpass MI on net run rate.
If RCB defeats UPW on Thursday, MI can afford to lose to GG on Friday. On Sunday, MI would hope that UPW defeated DC, but not by much. The defending champs have adequate leeway in this situation because MI currently leads UPW by more than 110 runs on net run rate.
On Sunday, DC will play UPW in a circumstance akin to a knockout. Regardless of the margin of victory, they will advance to the playoffs if they win that game because their net run rate is already higher than GG’s, who are now on eight points.
However, if RCB defeats UPW and MI loses to GG by a significant margin before DC plays UPW in the last league game of the season, a loss might not terminate their campaign.
After that, DC, MI, and UPW will all be on six points. Thus, the team with the best net run rate out of the three will advance. DC is more than 40 runs behind MI, but they are ahead of UPW by around 70 runs in net run rate.
At the bottom of the table right now, UPW has the lowest net run rate of any team. It will be crucial to their prospects of qualifying because two or more clubs in the running may wind up with the same number of points.
UPW must prevail in their final two contests. Their net run rate will make it difficult for them to qualify even in that case. In order to close the roughly 55-run gap with GG, UPW will need to increase their net run rate or hope that GG defeats MI on Friday.