Not RCB or SRH! Historic playoff results make Gujarat Titans strong contenders for IPL 2026 trophy Cricket News

Shibman Gill of GT, Rajat Patidar of RCB and Pete Cummins of SRH (Picture: X and IPL)

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru have enjoyed a sensational IPL 2026 campaign, finishing at the top of the points table and looking every bit as strong contenders to retain their crown. But history shows that finishing first does not necessarily guarantee title success in the Indian Premier League. Instead, an interesting playoff statistic points towards Gujarat Titans as the team most likely to lift the trophy this season.RCB, GT and Sunrisers Hyderabad all ended the league stage with 18 points, though RCB took the top spot due to a higher net run rate. Meanwhile, the battle for the final playoff berth lives on, with Rajasthan Royals Currently in fourth place with 14 points. Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals still mathematically have three league matches left.gave IPL Introduced its current playoff structure in 2011, replacing the old knockout system used during the tournament’s first three seasons. Under the previous format, the top four teams advanced directly to the knockout semi-finals, where a single defeat meant elimination for the table-toppers as well. To reward consistency during the league phase, the BCCI implemented the current four-match playoff system consisting of Qualifier 1, Eliminator and Qualifier 2. This structure gives the top two teams two chances to reach the finals, while the third- and fourth-placed teams must survive sudden-death matches. Interestingly, since the playoff format began in 2011, the second-placed team has emerged as IPL champions more often than any other team.IPL title winners by league stage finishing position (since 2011): 1st place: 5 titles, 2nd place: 9 titles, 3rd place: 1 title, 4th place: 0 titles

These stats could significantly favor Gujarat Titans if they eventually finish second in the playoffs.Even last season RCB’s first IPL victory came after finishing second in the table. Although PBKS finished level on points with RCB, Punjab came out on top due to a better net run rate. RCB then defeated PBKS in Qualifier 1 and overcame them again in the final to clinch their long-awaited first title.Historically, finishing first has not always worked in RCB’s favour. In 2011, they topped the league table but lost to Chennai Super Kings in the final. In 2016, they finished second and directly reached the final after winning Qualifier 1, only to lose to SRH.Mumbai Indians, the most successful franchise alongside CSK, have also shown the importance of finishing in the top two. Mumbai won two of their five titles after finishing second and three after finishing first.Gujarat Titans themselves enjoyed a dream debut campaign in 2022 when they finished as the table toppers and won the title in their inaugural season defeating Rajasthan Royals in the final.Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad remain the only team to have won the IPL after starting through the eliminator route. SRH famously beat RCB in the 2016 final even though RCB were second in the standings.

RCB’s bowling dominance vs Gujarat Titans’ playoff advantage: Who will win IPL 2026?

The road to the Indian Premier League 2026 final is set to accelerate as Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on Tuesday, May 26. The winner will book a direct berth in the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on May 31, while the losing team will get another chance through Qualifier 2.Why Gujarat Titans could be the biggest advantage of the playoffs.If the Gujarat Titans beat RCB in Qualifier 1, they can reach the finals familiar with the conditions in Ahmedabad, a venue they have turned into a fortress this season. GT won five of their seven home matches during the league stage, losing only twice at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Their dominant home record reflects how comfortably the squad has adapted to the pitch conditions, dimensions and pressure of playing in front of a packed Ahmedabad crowd.This advantage becomes even more important considering the history of the IPL playoffs, especially the second placed teams. Since the play-off system was introduced in 2011, the second-placed teams have won the IPL title more times than the table-toppers.RCB’s strongest title defense in yearsHowever, RCB entered the playoffs with great momentum after finishing as the league stage table toppers chasing back-to-back IPL titles after their historic victory in 2025. For years, RCB’s bowling attack was seen as the biggest weakness of the franchise. In IPL 2026, this has become their biggest strength.RCB led the tournament with 27 powerplay wickets, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood consistently decimating the opposition batting line-up early on. Bhuvneshwar is currently the season’s leading wicket-taker, while Hazlewood’s experience has added control and aggression with the new ball.Their batting has also evolved into a much more balanced unit. Virat Kohli. Unlike last season where Kohli often lacked support in crucial matches, given the heartbreaking defeat in the 2016 final where the batsmen collapsed, RCB now possess a strong middle order. Rajat PatidarJitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya and Tim David.The defending champions look far more complete this season, with balance, depth and pace firmly in their side, they can surely win their second IPL title.SRH are facing the toughest road to the playoffs.Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad will have to navigate a tough eliminator route after finishing third. SRH will play an eliminator in Milanpur on May 27 against whichever team will claim the fourth playoff spot. Historically, this path has proved extremely difficult. Only one team in the history of the IPL playoffs has managed to win the title since the eliminator in 2016, SRH.That memorable season ended with a famous final victory over RCB, a result that could provide psychological confidence if the two sides meet again later in the playoffs. SRH also beat RCB in their last league stage encounter this season, giving them a further boost in their confidence going into the knockouts.Still, with the top two teams in playoff history and Gujarat Titans likely to enjoy home conditions in the final, GT could quietly emerge as the strongest statistical favorites to win IPL 2026, even as RCB’s dominance and SRH’s recent resurgence keep the title race wide open.