How can GT finish in top two for IPL 2026 Playoffs after 29-run loss vs KKR in Kolkata? 

Gujarat Titans’ (GT) hopes of being the first team to officially qualify for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 playoffs and set a foot in the Qualifier 1 took a massive hit after a 29-run loss to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The Shubman Gill-led side fell short while chasing a massive 248-run target, on Saturday, May 16, to remain rooted second in the standings, behind the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Coming into the contest on the back of five successive wins, GT had 16 points in 12 matches, and were on the cusp of cementing a top-two spot. However, for them to now have two shots at the IPL Final becomes a lot trickier, as they have to win their last league stage match against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and also hope for other results to go their way.

GT’s points tally will increase to 18 if they win the aforementioned clash, which should be enough, unless Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) win their remaining both matches, and manage to surpass GT’s net run-rate, as both teams will then be level at 18.

There is a possibility of four teams being tied at 18 points if RCB loses to SRH, but defeats the Punjab Kings (PBKS), and the Rajasthan Royals (RR) win all their matches in hand. As things stand, only these four teams are capable of reaching the 18-point tally.

On the off-chance that GT lose to CSK at home to end with only 16 points, they can still make it to the top two, if SRH loses both their remaining matches, and PBKS and RR lose atleast one of their last set of matches.

“We didn’t deserve to win this one” – Shubman Gill’s massive remark after GT’s loss to KKR in IPL 2026

GT lost to KKR for the first time since IPL 2023 as they could not recover from a batting onslaught that included fifties from Finn Allen, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, and Cameron Green. The visitors were far from their best on the field, with all three top scorers being dropped over the course of the innings.

GT skipper Shubman Gill slammed the poor fielding efforts, while stating that it cost them the game.

“Looking at the wicket, 200-210 was par score but we dropped too many catches. Pitch was good, the odd one was stopping but I felt we batted well to get to the score we did. No concerns but our fielding could’ve been a lot better. We set a certain standard and dropping 3 sitters, we didn’t deserve to win this one,” Shubman Gill said at the post-match presentation.

GT’s last league stage match is against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Narendra Modi Stadium, on Thursday, May 21.