Heading into the final stretch of league-stage matches, the 2023 edition of Indian Premier League finally got its first confirmed playoff participant. Defending champions Gujarat Titans became the first team to qualify for the playoffs and they did so by directly assuring themselves of a place in the top two with one match still to play.

Hardik Pandya and Co will play Qualifier 1 for the second straight season.

But with the last weekend of action coming up, the identity and order of the other three playoff participants was not yet known.

The second team to confirm their berth was Chennai Super Kings.

Here’s how the points table looks in the end:

Points table after league stage

TEAM P W L NR NRR PTS
GT (Q) 14 10 4 0 0.809 20
CSK (Q) 14 8 5 1 0.652 17
LSG (q) 14 8 5 1 0.284 17
MI (q) 14 8 6 0 -0.044 16
RR 14 7 7 0 0.148 14
RCB 14 7 7 0 0.135 14
KKR 14 6 8 0 -0.239 12
PBKS 14 6 8 0 -0.304 12
DC 14 5 9 0 -0.808 10
SRH 14 4 10 0 -0.590 8
Q = qualified as top 2, q = qualified for Eliminator

Updated after the end of league stage

Gujarat Titans (Qualified, top two assured)

Remaining games: RCB (away)

They had the chance to seal their top two spot in the match against Mumbai Indians but it eventually came against SRH. Hardik Pandya and Co have looked like a complete team from the word go, and apart from the odd blip here and there, have been the best team on display. Deserved entrants to Qualifier 1. In their final game, with nothing left to play for, it remains to be seen if they take the foot off the gas, though. RCB will have plenty riding on it.

Chennai Super Kings (Qualified, top two assured)

Remaining games: Done

CSK could have been the first team to reach the playoffs but KKR had other ideas at Chepauk. The wait extended to the last game, but MS Dhoni and Co got the job done in Delhi.

With a big win too, they got an additional boost for the NRR and finished second.

Lucknow Super Giants (Qualified)

Remaining games: Done

It went down to wire. But LSG managed to hold off a Rinku Singh special and finish on 17 points. The top two spot eluded them but they made it back to the playoffs and will play the Eliminator.

Mumbai Indians (Qualified)

Remaining games: Done

Former MI star Hardik Pandya did his old side a favour by leading his side to a win in RCB.

Rajasthan Royals (Eliminated)

Remaining games: Done

After starting the season looking like one of the title contenders, things unravelled big time for Sanju Samson and Co. Pulling defeats from the jaws of victory, they found themselves out of the playoff race.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Remaining games: Done

A superb Virat Kohli ton was eclipsed by a sensational Shubman Gill ton. Passing of the baton.

Kolkata Knight Riders (Eliminated)

Remaining games: Done

If only they had a couple more Rinku Singhs.

Punjab Kings (Eliminated)

Remaining games: Done

PBKS were decently placed with two matches to go knowing that 16 was a possibility, but ended up losing their last two matches in Dharamsala and once again fell short of playoffs.

Delhi Capitals (Eliminated)

Remaining games: Done

All DC could do is no play the role of spoilers to PBKS and CSK. They did so to PBKS but couldn’t to CSK.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Eliminated)

Remaining games: Done

May be the sun will rise on them next season.