WPL 2026 scenarios: RCB-W through to playoffs, other four in mid-table tussle

The race to the playoffs has intensified in the ongoing WPL 2026, with RCB-W already through, and the other four pretty much in the mix with six games to go. Here is what the teams need ahead of the final stretch.

WPL 2026 points table (after match 14)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women

Remaining fixtures: vs DC-W, Jan 24 | vs MI-W, Jan 26 | vs UPW-W, Jan 29

With five straight wins to begin their campaign, RCB-W have ensured a top-two finish, and already have a foot in the final with 10 points. A win in their next game (or one in three) will ensure them a final berth, but even otherwise, if they go down in all three games, only the winner of Match 17 (DC-W vs GG-W), can match them at 10. That stated, their net run-rate of +1.882 is miles ahead of every other team, putting them in a great stead.

Gujarat Giants Women

Remaining fixtures: vs DC-W, Jan 27 | vs MI-W, Jan 30

A 45-run win over UPW-W on Thursday has given a much needed boost to GG-W's net run-rate, with the two points placing them ahead of the other three teams at this stage. Wins in both their remaining games will ensure them a spot in the Eliminator on Feb 3, and they would also stand an outside chance for a top finish in this case, should RCB-W go winless from here on and the margins in either case are significant enough. If they beat DC-W and lose to MI-W, then there can be a possible situation of a three-way tie at eight points if MI-W beat RCB-W and DC-W win their other two games, thereby bringing it down to NRR.

They'll stand an even better chance if they go down against DC-W but beat MI-W, as that will ensure them a finish ahead of the latter, and a defeat for UPW-W in either of their remaining games would steal the deal.

In case they go winless from here on, GG-W would still stand an outside chance provided several other results go their way. There can be a scenario wherein all other teams bar RCB-W can be tied at six points each: GG-W lose both, RCB-W win all and UPW-W beat DC-W, which will make NRR the determinant factor.

Mumbai Indians Women

Remaining fixtures: vs RCB-W, Jan 26 | vs GG-W, Jan 30

Injury woes and struggles at the top have put the two-time champions in a rather unfamiliar territory, but they are still in with a decent chance. MI-W's most straightforward bet is to win both their remaining games and hope for two of the other three contenders to stay at six points - the GG-W vs DC-W fixture would be closely looked at in this case, for one is ahead on points while the other has an extra game in hand.

If MI-W beat RCB but lose to GG-W, they would ideally want both DC-W and UPW-W to remain at four points before those two teams face-off in the final league game on February 1, and then the winner of that game stays behind them on the net run-rate. If they lose to RCB-W but beat GG-W, there can still be a four-way tie at six points.

Delhi Capitals Women

Remaining fixtures: vs RCB-W, Jan 24 | vs GG-W, Jan 27 | vs UPW-W, Feb 1

Three straight wins will ensure a playoffs berth for DC-W, while two could also seal the deal. If RCB-W beat both DC-W and MI-W in the next two games and DC-W win their other two, DC-W will be at eight points and MI-W and UPW-W won't be able to go past six to give the three-time finalists a clear pathway.

If DC-W beat RCB-W and UPW-W, but lose to GG-W, and MI-W win their remaining two games, then it will be down to them and the latter two tied at eight points each.

UP Warriorz Women

Remaining fixtures: vs RCB-W, Jan 29 | vs DC-W, Feb 1

UP Warriorz are languishing at the bottom with just four points and have the lowest NRR (-0.769) among the five teams. The first scenario for UPW-W to go through without NRR coming into picture is to win both, and GG-W to do the same and run away with 10 points. MI-W and DC-W won't be able to go past six in this case.

Another way for them without relying on the net run-rate is to get to eight points, GG-W lose their both and RCB-W to beat at least one of MI-W or DC-W. If both MI-W and DC-W beat RCB-W in the above case, then the former two and UPW-W will be tied at eight points each.

A four-way tie, as explained in the GG-W section, might not be of much help for UPW-W, given their precarious net run-rate.