WPL 2026 scenarios: DC lead the fight for the final two playoff spots

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 five games to go. Here is what the teams need ahead of the final stretch.

WPL 2026 points table (after match 15)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women

Remaining fixtures: 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 one of their next two games will ensure them a final berth, but even otherwise, if they go winless, only the winner of Match 17 (DC-W vs GG-W), can match them at 10. That stated, their net run-rate of +1.236 is miles ahead of every other team, putting them in great stead.

Delhi Capitals Women

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

Two straight wins will ensure a playoff berth for DC-W, while one could also seal the deal. Say if GG-W lose both their remaining games (one vs DC-W) and MI-W and UPW-W go down to RCB-W, DC-W would then finish at eight points even if they lose the final league game - comfortably ahead of the other three contenders.

If GG-W beat both DC-W and MI-W, and DC-W win against UPW-W, DC-W will be through with eight points, as MI-W and UPW-W won't be able to go past six in this case.

If DC-W lose to GG-W but beat UPW-W and MI-W win their remaining two games, then it will be down to them GG-W and MI-W tied at eight points each. DC-W can even make it with six points if they stay ahead on the net run-rate, more on that below (refer MI-W section).

Gujarat Giants Women

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

A 45-run win over UPW-W on Thursday gave a much needed boost to GG-W's net run-rate, before DC-W stormed past RCB-W on Saturday and took the second spot. 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 beat UPW-W, 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. For instance, there can be a scenario then wherein GG-W, MI-W and UPW-W can be tied at six points each: GG-W lose both (DC-W then get to eight), RCB-W beat UPW-W and MI-W; 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 the winner will get to eight.

If they lose to RCB-W but beat GG-W, there can still be a three-way tie at six points, as explained earlier.

If MI-W beat RCB but lose to GG-W, they would ideally want the latter and UPW-W both to beat DC-W for a start, and then stay ahead of UPW-W and DC-W on the net run-rate in this three-way tie at six points.

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 beat MI-W. If MI-W win against RCB-W in the above case, then the former, DC-W and UPW-W will be tied at eight points each.

A three-way tie at six, as explained earlier, might not be of much help for UPW-W, given their precarious net run-rate.