Delhi: IPL 2026 is in its last stages. This time, the speed with which Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans qualified for the playoffs despite many matches remaining, made it seem that the excitement of the remaining matches is over. This is not so and till the matches of May 21, four teams have a chance for one place left for the playoffs, meaning the excitement is still there.

Although some teams are adept at playing IPL playoffs, for some it is a big achievement. Do you know what is the record for most number of playoff appearances? Let’s talk about the same:

Chennai Super Kings (12 times): This team won the title in 2023 and that was the last year when it qualified for the playoffs. The previous record was so unmatched that now it is surprising when people do not qualify. IPL 2026 has also been added to this list. Still the playoff kings and qualified 12 times in 17 seasons.

This record of his will be a challenge for any team. From 2008 to 2015, qualified 8 consecutive seasons. When he returned from suspension in 2018, he directly qualified for the playoffs and also won the title. From there the mess started and played playoffs only in 2019, 2021 and 2023. He also holds the record of playing most number of matches in IPL playoffs in which he played finals maximum 10 times and won 5 times.

Mumbai Indians (11 times): Mumbai Indians did not equal Chennai’s record this year and are stuck on the count of 11 playoff appearances in 19 seasons.

Became champion 5 times in these 11 playoffs (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020). They had a slow start and played in the playoffs for the first time after waiting three seasons. Once the series started, they qualified for the playoffs 6 consecutive times till 2015. Missed out in 2016 but kept qualifying after that, even though that round did not come. They are the team that has played the second most matches in the playoffs (22).

Royal Challengers Bangalore (11 times): After equaling Mumbai’s record, he is now closest to equaling Chennai’s record and has qualified 11 times.

It is a big challenge for them to equal the trophy winning records of Mumbai and Chennai. After winning the title in 2025, this season played such cricket from the beginning which made playing in the playoffs almost certain. The best streak was from 2009 to 2011 when they made a hat-trick of playoff appearances. After that waited for 4 seasons. Similarly after 2016, could not qualify in the next three seasons. Playing in the playoffs from 2020 to 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025 and now 2026.

Kolkata Knight Riders (8 times): This team also started playing in the playoffs late and played for the first time in 2011.

His best phase from 2016 to 2018 was when he scored a hat-trick of playing in the playoffs. This time till May 21, they are contenders to play on the one spot left for the playoffs. Who gets this one spot in the end will decide Kolkata Knight Riders’ overall playoff qualification count. Recently, Sunrisers Hyderabad has equaled his record this season. Became champion 3 times in 8 seasons.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (8 times): They have qualified for the playoffs for the 2026 season and are currently equal to Kolkata Knight Riders’ record of qualifying for the playoffs 8 times. Sunrisers played 14 IPL seasons and qualified for the playoffs 8 times. From this perspective the record is very impressive. The best period was from 2016 to 2020 when it played in the playoffs for 5 consecutive seasons. Till now the title has been won once but the 2026 season can change this record.

Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals (6 times before 2026): The name of Rajasthan Royals is at the top among the strongest contenders to play on the spot remaining in the playoff till May 21. If they qualify, they will surpass Delhi Capitals’ record of 6 times.

Rajasthan Royals Qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 2008 itself and also won the title, but after that this team was very irregular in this matter and the thing to note is that in their 17 seasons of playing in the IPL including 2026, it did not happen even once that they qualified for the playoffs in two consecutive seasons.

similarly Delhi Capitals It also started very well and played in the playoffs in 2008 itself. Played in 2009 also but when they did not win the title in these two seasons, their streak of qualifying for playoffs deteriorated. Despite playing in all 19 seasons of IPL, it has qualified for the playoffs 6 times till 2025. This season, he is at the bottom of the list of contenders for the one remaining spot. 2021 was the last season it qualified for the playoffs. Similarly, the wait for the title also continues.