With just 11 days left in the league phase of IPL 2026, the race for the playoffs has opened up dramatically. A late resurgence by Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings means eight teams are still mathematically alive in the race for the last four.For KKR, the turnaround has been remarkable. The team looked out midway through the season after going six matches without a win – five defeats and no results. But four straight wins have dragged them back into contention, setting up a tense finale where every match is effectively a knockout.
KKR’s playoff tie
KKR are currently eighth with nine points from 10 games but have a game in hand on several rivals. That gives them the maximum possible tally of 17 points if they win all four of their remaining fixtures – which could still be enough to secure qualification depending on other results.Their path, however, remains steep. According to statistical estimates, KKR’s chances of reaching the playoffs are only 12.8%. They even have an outside shot of finishing in the top two, though the odds are slim at 3.6 percent.Next fixtures are in demand: away to Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Wednesday (May 13), followed by home clashes against Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals. Three of them are at home at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, giving KKR a significant lead.Watson sees a return to belief.KKR assistant coach Shane Watson said the squad has deliberately avoided looking too far ahead and is only focused on the next match.“To be completely honest, we haven’t talked about anything in the future,” Watson said ahead of the clash against RCB.He pointed to the side’s improvement in all departments after a difficult first half.
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“From where we went from halfway through the tournament to the cricket we’ve been playing, especially in the last two games, it’s been impressive to see our group really come together in all aspects.”Watson added that the history of the IPL shows that teams can recover from bad starts and still make deep runs, giving KKR confidence.For KKR, the equation is now simple: win all four, and the door to the playoffs could still be wide open. One slip, and the revival could end as abruptly as it began.
