While champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru became the first team assured of a berth on Sunday, 18 May, as many as seven teams (you read that right) are still in with a mathematical chance of bagging the final three spots.

DHARAMSALA, India (AP) — Venkatesh Iyer was 73 not out off 40 balls, and Virat Kohli hit a 37-ball 58 as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Punjab Kings by 23 runs to advance to the knockout stage of the Indian Premier League 2026 on Sunday.

Both results, packed with explosive batting and strong bowling, have added fresh momentum to the league stage as teams battle for the final playoff berths.

RCB romped to a 23-run victory over PBKS, thus sealing their spot in the IPL 2026 play-offs thanks to some brilliant batting by Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer

Virat Kohli added another IPL record to his name on Sunday after completing 500 runs in IPL 2026 during Royal Challengers Bengaluru' match against Punjab Kings at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.

PBKS vs RCB LIVE Score, IPL 2026: Punjab Kings take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their IPL 2026 fixture, on Sunday. For both sides, it will be all about winning the match in Dharamshala.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Mumbai Indians by two wickets in Match 54 of IPL 2026 at Raipur, thanks to Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya