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.
@B0$
@B1$
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.
@B2$
Remaining fixtures: vs DC-W, Jan 27 | vs MI-W, Jan 30
A 45-run win over UPW-W @L0$ 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.
@B3$
Remaining fixtures: vs RCB-W, Jan 26 | vs GG-W, Jan 30
Injury woes and @L1$ 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.
@B4$
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.
@B5$
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.
