IPL points – Rajasthan Royals’ 40-run win over LSG reshuffles the IPL 2026 points table, pushing RR into second as Punjab Kings stay unbeaten.
Cricket fans didn’t just watch a match on Match 32 of IPL 2026—because a 40-run result like this can quietly redraw the playoff map.
Rajasthan Royals’ victory over Lucknow Super Giants has moved them to the second spot. while the top half of the table tightens around them.. Punjab Kings remain the standout at the top. still unbeaten. and their net run rate of +1.420 underlines how strongly they’ve been winning—not only getting over the line. but doing so with control.. For teams chasing a top-two finish, that matters, because NRR often decides what points alone can’t settle.
The Rajasthan Royals jump to second place with five wins in seven matches.. Their net run rate is also positive at +0.790. and that combination—wins plus a healthy NRR—signals a squad that isn’t relying on luck.. They are building consistency. and this win over LSG adds to a growing sense that RR are becoming the type of team that can keep winning even when the opposition adapts.
Behind the leaders, Royal Challengers Bengaluru hold third place with four wins from six matches.. Their net run rate (+1.171) suggests the wins have been fairly convincing. which keeps them within striking distance of the top two.. When a team’s NRR stays elevated. it’s usually because their batting depth and bowling execution are producing margins. not just results.
Sunrisers Hyderabad are in fourth place, level on points with RCB but slightly lower on net run rate (+0.820).. That fine difference is a reminder of how close the race is.. SRH’s season balance—enough to stay competitive—also means they can’t afford a couple of off days.. In a league as unforgiving as IPL. being level on points can still feel like chasing. especially when the NRR gap is present.
Delhi Capitals sit fifth with three wins and three losses.. Their NRR is slightly negative (-0.130), which usually points to matches that swung against them by larger margins.. DC can still climb. but the path depends on turning narrow wins into clearer ones—because improving NRR becomes crucial once the table compresses.
Why Match 32 mattered for the IPL points race
That pressure shows in Lucknow Super Giants slipping to ninth.. They have two wins in seven matches and the league’s worst net run rate at -1.277.. When a team’s NRR is that negative, it’s often because defeats haven’t been close.. Even if LSG win a game from here. opponents can still outrank them on the finer math. unless LSG start producing bigger wins in succession.
At the other end, Kolkata Knight Riders remain near the bottom with just one win.. Their net run rate stands at -0.879. and while one no result has given them an extra point. the overall trajectory still signals that a dramatic turnaround is needed.. In IPL terms. the lesson for KKR is clear: points help. but NRR gaps can become a wall by late stages.
Gujarat Titans are sixth with the same points as Delhi Capitals, but their net run rate is far worse (-0.821).. Their losses appear to have been heavy enough to drag their margins down.. Mumbai Indians are seventh. also with a nearly neutral net run rate (+0.067). which suggests they’ve had enough close results and one bigger payoff to stay in contention.. Chennai Super Kings are eighth with a net run rate of -0.780. pointing to struggles in keeping games under control when they lose.
What the NRR tells you about each team’s real shape
Meanwhile, teams like LSG (-1.277) and KKR (-0.879) are carrying significant mathematical baggage.. Those numbers don’t automatically mean they can’t qualify—but they do mean qualification likely requires a run of performances that swings margins strongly in their favor.. DC (-0.130) and GT (-0.821) occupy different levels of urgency. but both are living in the world where “just winning” may not be enough.
For fans, the immediate takeaway after Match 32 is simple: the playoff fight has become more structured.. RR now look like a team positioned for a top finish rather than a survival battle. while LSG’s path has narrowed.. As the league moves forward. every match will matter twice—once for the points. and again for how much it shifts net run rate.