Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
In the 25th league match of IPL 2026 played on Friday (April 17), Gujarat Titans defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 5 wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
This was Kolkata’s fifth consecutive defeat of the season, raising serious concerns about their chances of qualifying for the playoffs. The big question now is whether KKR could become the first team to be eliminated from the tournament.
To qualify for the playoffs, a team generally needs to win at least 8 out of 14 league matches, securing around 16 points, which is usually enough for a top-four finish.
Kolkata Knight Riders have played 6 matches so far, losing 5 of them. One match was washed out due to rain, giving them just 1 point. With only 8 matches remaining, KKR now needs to win almost all of them to stay in the playoff race. Even a single additional defeat could significantly end their qualification hopes.
Current Points Table (Top 4 Teams)
- Punjab Kings – 9 points (1st place)
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru – 8 points (2nd place)
- Rajasthan Royals – 8 points (3rd place)
- Gujarat Titans – 4th place
The race for the top four remains intense, while KKR will now have to stage a strong comeback to keep their campaign alive.