WPL qualification scenarios: RCB through, four teams compete for two spots

Grace Harris produced a decisive all-round display on Thursday as Royal Challengers Bengaluru sealed top spot and booked a place in the final of the Women's Premier League 2026. All four remaining teams are still in contention for a playoff spot, with two league-stage matches left. Here's what each team needs heading into the final stretch.

Points Table(after match 18)

Gujarat Giants

Remaining fixtures: vs MI-W, Jan 30

The Gujarat Giants moved up to second with a thrilling three-run win over the Delhi Capitals, taking their tally to eight points from seven matches. Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals follow with six each, ensuring a tightly packed race for the final two playoff spots.

The Giants' simplest route is a win over MI by any margin, which would take them to 10 points and secure qualification. They could also qualify with a loss, provided UP Warriorz beat Delhi Capitals.

However, if GG loses to MI on Friday by just 1 run, for instance, then DC needs to beat UPW by any margin to go above GG's NRR and advance to the eliminator with MI (assuming first-innings scores of 160). GG is currently on a poor -0.271; they would be vulnerable to elimination.

Mumbai Indians

Remaining fixture: vs GG-W, Jan 30

Defending champions Mumbai Indians remain well placed, largely due to having the best net run rate among the four teams fighting for the last two spots.

A win against GG would take MI to eight points and should be enough to qualify. They hold a dominant 8-0 head-to-head record against GG.

If MI lose to GG, they would then need DC to lose to UPW. For instance, if MI goes down by 50 runs, then they need DC to lose by 7 or more runs against UPW to stay below them on NRR, and also need UPW not to win by more than 116 runs against DC in the final game of the season (assuming first-innings scores of 160).

Delhi Capitals

Remaining fixtures: vs UPW-W, Feb 1

After losing three of their first four matches, Delhi Capitals revived their campaign with back-to-back wins over MI and RCB, but Tuesday's defeat to Gujarat Giants has left them with little margin for error.

DC will qualify for the eliminator if they beat UPW in the final league game, regardless of what happens in the MI-GG match. If DC lose to Warriorz and GG beat MI on Friday, a three-way tie would ensue between DC, MI, and UPW on six points, with NRR being the tie breaker.

Suppose GG beat MI by a 50-run margin, then DC need to ensure they do not lose to UPW by more than six runs to finish above MI's net run rate (assuming first-innings scores of 160 in each case). The Capitals do, however, hold the advantage of playing the final league match and knowing exactly what is required.

UP Warriorz

Remaining fixtures: vs DC-W, Feb 1

Thursday's defeat to RCB has now left the UP Warriorz on the brink of elimination. Meg Lanning's side are at the bottom of the table with four points and the poorest net run rate of (-1.146), but they remain mathematically alive.

UPW has an outside chance of qualifying on six points, but only if they beat DC in the last game by a big margin, and hoping GG beat MI by a big margin on Friday, taking UPW's NRR above MI and DC.

For instance, if MI lose by a 50-run margin against the Giants, then UPW should beat the Capitals by 117 runs or more to finish above MI's and DC's run rate to qualify and play the eliminator on Feb 3 (assuming first-innings scores of 160 in each case).