IPL Qualification scenario RCB At the end of the 62nd match of the ongoing IPL 2024, only Kolkata Knight Riders have officially booked a place in the playoffs.
With eight more league matches remaining, seven teams are still in the hunt for the remaining three play-off spots. Here’s a look at how the teams are currently ranked and possible qualifying scenarios:
KKR
KKR have qualified for the playoffs with 18 points and a healthy net run rate and with two more matches in hand, they are almost certain to finish in the top two. Another win will guarantee them a place in Qualifier 1 to be played in Ahmedabad on May 21. They lose both their matches by huge margins and both RR and SRH will overtake them in NRR.
IPL Qualification scenario RCB, RR, SRH, CSK
The last loss against CSK left RR in an upset spot but they are still in a comfortable position to qualify for the playoffs with 16 points from 12 games. RR’s qualification will be assured if DC beat LSG on Tuesday (May 14), as only CSK and SRH can match or better them (barring KKR who are already ahead). If LSG win tomorrow, a win from their remaining two matches will ensure RR’s play-off spot, and two wins will ensure a top-two finish (i.e. one win if they finish ahead of SRH in NRR if they also finish 18 ). Even if RR lose both their matches, their chances of elimination are slim – SRH, CSK and LSG can all reach the 16 – but LSG’s NRR -0.769 is much lower than RR’s (+0.349).
A dominant win against LSG gave SRH a great chance to qualify. If they can win their remaining two matches, they will be assured of a play-off spot and also have a chance of a top-two finish depending on other results involving KKR and RR. A win out of two will help them get through due to their higher NRR compared to other teams in the hunt. However, two defeats could put them in trouble as CSK, IPL Qualification scenario RCB and LSG could overtake them.
CSK’s win against RR boosted their chances of qualifying; They are currently third in the table with 7 wins from 13 matches and a net run rate of +0.528. If CSK wins their last match against IPL Qualification scenario RCB, they will be given a healthy NRR. In case of a defeat, which would leave them on 14 points, they could miss out on a place in the top four as KKR, RR, SRH and LSG could finish above them. In another scenario in case of a loss to RCB, they can still do it, provided the margin of defeat is small enough to keep them ahead of the two SRH, LSG and RCB.
IPL Qualification scenario RCB, DC, LSG, GT
IPL RCB are currently fifth in the points table after a convincing win against DC at home and they still have a realistic shot at booking a top four spot thanks to a healthy net run rate of 0.387. They will take on CSK in their last game which could be a virtual knockout if some other results involving SRH and LSG go their way. In that case, RCB would need to beat CSK by 18 runs or more to overtake them in NRR (they score 200 runs when batting first). If they set a target of 201, they need to get there in 18.1 overs or earlier. IPL Qualification scenario RCB will be knocked out regardless of margin of victory against CSK if SRH can win at least one and LSG can win their remaining two games.
DC’s last night defeat significantly affected their NRR which is now much lower than CSK and IPL Qualification scenario RCB. They have a slim chance of qualifying if some other result goes in their favour. The best scenario for them to qualify is if they win their last match against LSG and if SRH lose their last two games – both by huge margins – and CSK beat IPL Qualification scenario RCB on May 18. DC can get ahead of SRH in terms of 14. Points tie if SRH lose their last two matches by a combined margin of 120 runs and DC beat LSG by 96 runs or more (assuming team bats first and scores 200 runs). However, SRH will have the advantage of knowing the exact situation if it comes down to it, as they played their last two matches after DC finished with 14 of them.
Last Wednesday’s loss against SRH has dented LSG’s prospects, and they have 12 points from 12 matches with a net run rate of -0.769 which is the second worst of all teams behind GT. But they still have a chance to qualify with 16 points if they win their remaining two matches against DC and MI and CSK and SRH on 14. If LSG lose one more match (or both CSK and SRH go to 16), they stand.
Read More: IPL 2024 CSK vs RR, Can RR Confirm Playoff
Gujarat Titans could finish with 14 points with two more wins, but an NRR of -1.063 almost ensures their elimination. Meanwhile, both MI and PBKS are out of the playoff race.