EXPLAINED: What SRH need to do to secure top 2 finish in IPL 2026 points table after GT knock out CSK

Gujarat Titans (GT) put themselves on the brink of securing a coveted top-two finish after ending Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) campaign at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 after notching 89-run win in their final league match on May 21. Played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, this decisive result officially knocked Rajasthan Royals (RR) out of the top-two race, as they can no longer mathematically match the 18-point tally achieved by both GT and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

How can SRH achieve top 2 finish in IPL 2026 points table?

With Gujarat and Bengaluru sitting comfortably, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are now the only remaining team capable of challenging them for a top-two finish in the IPL 2026 points table. The Pat Cummins-led side is scheduled to face off against the defending champions in the final match of the league stage on Friday, May 22, in Hyderabad.

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However, the 2016 champions face a massive uphill task to claim that advantage. To overtake GT on net run rate, SRH not only needs a victory but must secure it by an enormous margin. Specifically, if they bat first, they will need to win by approximately 86 to 87 runs. If they are chasing a target, they will have to wrap up the run chase somewhere between 11.1 and 11.3 overs.

Securing a top-two finish remains absolutely critical for teams aiming to lift the trophy. Since the current playoff format was introduced in 2011, the IPL champion has emerged from the top two slots, competing in Qualifier 1, in 14 out of the last 15 seasons. The lone exception to this historical trend remains the Sunrisers Hyderabad themselves, who famously won the 2016 title under David Warner's captaincy after charting their path through the Eliminator.

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GT hopes to maintain top 2 finish

Gujarat Titans' chances of a top-two finish, the franchise will be closely monitoring the final league fixture between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad. For GT to secure their spot, they need RCB to win the encounter outright. Alternatively, if the Hyderabad-based side emerges victorious, GT needs the win to be by a narrow margin so that SRH's net run rate remains inferior to that of the 2022 champions.

Another scenario that works in Gujarat's favor is a massively one-sided victory for Hyderabad. If SRH wins by a large enough margin, it would cause RCB's net run rate to plummet below both competing teams, thereby keeping the Titans safe.

Ultimately, it is highly unlikely that Gujarat will be knocked out of the top two positions. Because SRH and RCB are playing against each other, any drastic improvement in Hyderabad's net run rate would directly come at the expense of the 2025 champions' net run rate, mathematically ensuring that the Titans remain protected in the upper tier of the standings.