IPL 2026: RCB look to tighten grip on playoff spot as KKR fight to stay alive

The IPL playoff race has reached its decisive stretch. With roughly a dozen league fixtures remaining, eight teams are still in contention for the four playoff spots. No team can afford to relax just yet. This will not be lost on either Royal Challengers Bengaluru or Kolkata Knight Riders when they face off in Raipur on Wednesday.A look at the points table may suggest that defending champions RCB have a cushion at the top with 14 points. But the constantly shifting dynamics of the table mean they would need at least two wins from their remaining three matches to ensure a safe passage to the playoffs. For KKR, the situation is more precarious. The former champions sit eighth with nine points from 10 matches and another loss would leave them on the brink of elimination. Heading into the clash, RCB’s primary concern is not their position on the table but the fading form of their batting unit. Their narrow twowicket win over Mumbai Indians on Sunday highlighted their growing reliance on individual rescue acts, with Krunal Pandya steering the chase before Bhuvneshwar Kumar held his nerve in the closing moments.Captain Rajat Patidar, who began the season strongly, has managed just one half-century and only one other 20-plus score in his last six innings. RCB’s opening pair has also struggled, with Virat Kohli dismissed for back-to-back ducks, while Jacob Bethell is still searching for a defining knock after replacing the injured Phil Salt.As a result, RCB’s batting looks less formidable than it did earlier in the tournament. Though they have the firepower — with the likes of Devdutt Padikkal and Tim David capable of taking the match away — RCB’s stuttering batters will have their task cut out against Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. However, Chakravarthy’s participation remains uncertain, with KKR assistant coach Shane Watson saying the spinner was “sore” and being monitored.In contrast, KKR have rediscovered momentum after an uneven start to the season. Four consecutive victories have revived their campaign.