Rajasthan Royals (RR) suffered a significant setback in their IPL 2026 playoff hopes after a last-over defeat to Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on May 17. RR started strong, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi contributing to a solid total of 193/8. However, a collapse triggered by Mitchell Starc's quick wickets hindered their performance. In response, DC's KL Rahul and Abishek Porel led a successful chase, finishing at 194 runs in just 19.2 overs. Currently, RR sits in sixth place with twelve points from twelve matches. To qualify for the playoffs, RR must win their remaining games against Lucknow Super Giants on May 19 and Mumbai Indians on May 24, which would elevate their points to sixteen. This total would likely secure their playoff position as it would surpass the maximum points achievable by teams like Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. However, if they only win one match, RR's fate will depend on the results of other matches, particularly involving teams like Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, with Net Run Rate potentially playing a crucial role in tiebreakers.