Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has predicted the four teams that can qualify for the playoffs for the upcoming IPL 2026. Chopra backed Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals to finish among the top two teams after the league phase if their season is not hampered by injury woes and a dip in form.

Mumbai Indians have a potent squad for the upcoming season and they will be looking to win their sixth IPL title. Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, had failed to qualify for the playoffs in the previous season.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Gujarat Titans had qualified for the previous season’s playoffs.

“This is a tough one. No one knows because there are multiple variables like form, fitness, how the pitches would be, how much luck favors you, and all of that. However, the Mumbai Indians and the Delhi Capitals are the two teams that look very good to me on paper,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“If all their players remain fit and available, and the form remains decent, they actually should finish as No. 1 and No. 2 ideally, but one doesn’t know where they would go. However, I feel they should definitely qualify,” he added.

On the other hand, the renowned commentator picked the Punjab Kings as the third team. Chopra picked defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru as the fourth team, even though he feels things are not looking good for them.

“I feel the Punjab Kings are the third team that should qualify. I am thinking about the Royal Challengers Bengaluru as the fourth, although good news is not coming from the RCB camp. The Nuwan Thushara news came now. So things are not really setting up quite nicely for RCB,” he said in the same video.

“However, when I see the other teams and this team’s depth and strength, I feel RCB should be the fourth team. However, one of these four might miss out, and a fifth team might come in. That could be any team,” Chopra observed.

RCB will begin their IPL defense against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru on 28th March.