Mumbai:Before the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, neither the Mumbai Indians nor the Rajasthan Royals would have imagined that their last match of the preliminary round at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday would turn out to be so crucial not only for them but for the entire league.

Both teams have everything to play for -- RR for the playoff spot, MI for their pride, and to avoid finishing at the bottom of the pile.

The outcome of the match will decide the fourth spot in the playoffs -- if Rajasthan Royals, who are on 14 points, win the match, they will move to 16 and beyond the reach of Punjab Kings, who are on 13 and at maximum move to 15 points at most by winning their last league match against Lucknow Super Giants.

Winning the match will also help five-time champions Mumbai Indians avoid the wooden spoon as they are currently tied with Lucknow Super Giants on eight points and have a better Net Run Rate.

So, the last day of league action in the IPL 2026 will start with a make-or-break afternoon for Rajasthan Royals, who will be getting into it with their fortunes in their hands, with the two teams engaging in the final day game of the season.

The winner of the inaugural edition of IPL has had an up-and-down season so far and are coming into Sunday’s encounter after ending a three-match losing streak with a win over bottom-placed LSG. They had started their campaign with four wins, but then lost their way, posting indifferent results due to inconsistent performances.

In contrast, the Mumbai Indians, meanwhile, have endured a season to forget. They made history by winning their season opener for the first time in 14 years, but things went downhill soon after as they lost matches in clusters.