The race for the playoffs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is heating up with Rajasthan Royals currently leading the pack. Here's a look at the qualification scenarios, wins required, and chances for all teams:
Top Contenders (Almost Confirmed):
Rajasthan Royals (14 points): Sitting atop the points table with 14 points, the Royals have impressed with their well-rounded performance. They are projected to comfortably reach the playoffs with just one more win needed from their remaining six matches.
Kolkata Knight Riders (10 points): With 10 points and the best net run rate in the league, KKR is well-positioned for a playoff spot. Three wins from their remaining seven matches should be enough, but they could even qualify with 14 points depending on other results.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (10 points): Boasting a strong record of five wins and two losses, SRH sits third with 10 points. They need three wins from their remaining seven games to secure a playoff spot and are even aiming for a top-two finish.
In the Mix:
Lucknow Super Giants (10 points): Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), last year's qualifiers, are also in contention with 10 points. They need three wins from their remaining six matches to solidify their playoff spot.
Chennai Super Kings (8 points): The defending champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), find themselves in unfamiliar territory at fifth with eight points. Their inconsistent form, with contrasting home and away records, leaves them needing four wins from their remaining six games to qualify, a challenging proposition.
Outside Chances:
Delhi Capitals (DC) (8 points): DC's recent win over Gujarat Titans keeps them in contention. They need to win at least four of their remaining five games to qualify.
Gujarat Titans (GT) (8 points): A couple of poor results have them in the lower mid-table. Their negative net run rate makes qualification difficult without help from other teams.
Mumbai Indians (MI) (6 points): Despite losing five of their eight games in the 2024 Indian Premier League, remain in playoff contention with six matches left. Victories in all remaining games would see them reach a maximum of 18 points. However, their net run rate currently sits at a negative 0.23, a metric they'll need to improve.
Reaching 14 points could keep them in the playoff race, depending on the results of other contenders. Their next match, a must-win against the Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Stadium, is crucial for both teams.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) (4 points): PBKS needs a significant turnaround to reach the playoffs. They require six wins from their remaining games and must improve their negative net run rate.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) (2 points): With six straight losses and seven defeats in eight games, RCB's playoff chances are slim but mathematically possible. The Faf du Plessis-led side can still reach the top four, but their fate depends on other teams' results.
To keep their playoff hopes alive, RCB must win their remaining six league games. This would put them on 14 points at the end of the league stage. Even then, they would need favorable results from other matches to secure a top-four spot without relying on net run rate.
Ideally, the top two or three teams would win most of their remaining games, leaving the final playoff spot open. Historically, seven wins are often enough to qualify for the playoffs. RCB could still achieve this feat if they win their remaining matches. A scenario with only 12 points for RCB is also mathematically possible, but it would require a significant number of favorable results from other matches.
Read Also | Mohit Sharma Bowls Most Expensive Spell in IPL History During DC vs GT Clash
How do IPL playoffs work:
The top four teams will qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs. The top two teams will play in the first Qualifier, with the winner going straight into the final. The Eliminator will be played between the teams that are placed third and fourth in the IPL 2024 standings. The winner of the Eliminator will face off against the losing team of Qualifier 1. The winner of Qualifier 2 will enter the final, which will be held on May 26th.
IPL 2024 Points Table After DC vs GT Match:
| Pos. | Team | Mat. | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
|---|
| 1 | Rajasthan Royals | 8 | 7 | 1 | 14 | +0.698 |
| 2 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 7 | 5 | 2 | 10 | +1.206 |
| 3 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7 | 5 | 2 | 10 | +0.914 |
| 4 | Lucknow Super Giants | 8 | 5 | 3 | 10 | +0.148 |
| 5 | Chennai Super Kings | 8 | 4 | 4 | 8 | +0.415 |
| 6 | Delhi Capitals | 9 | 4 | 5 | 8 | -0.386 |
| 7 | Gujarat Titans | 9 | 4 | 5 | 8 | -0.974 |
| 8 | Mumbai Indians | 8 | 3 | 5 | 6 | -0.227 |
| 9 | Punjab Kings | 8 | 2 | 6 | 4 | -0.292 |
| 10 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 8 | 1 | 7 | 2 | -1.046 |
Read Also | Royal Challengers Bengaluru set to play 250th IPL game, a look at franchise's journey
IPL 2024 remaining schedule:
| Date | Match | Venue | Time |
|---|
| April 25 | SRH vs RCB | Hyderabad | 7:30pm |
| April 26 | KKR vs PBKS | Kolkata | 7:30pm |
| April 27 | DC vs MI | Delhi | 3:30pm |
| April 27 | LSG vs RR | Lucknow | 7:30pm |
| April 28 | GT vs RCB | Ahmedabad | 7:30pm |
| April 28 | CSK vs SRH | Chennai | 7:30pm |
| April 29 | KKR vs DC | Kolkata | 7:30pm |
| April 30 | LSG vs MI | Lucknow | 7:30pm |
| May 1 | CSK vs PBKS | Chennai | 7:30pm |
| May 2 | SRH vs RR | Hyderabad | 7:30pm |
| May 3 | MI vs KKR | Mumbai | 7:30pm |
| May 4 | RCB vs GT | Bengaluru | 3:30pm |
| May 4 | PBKS vs CSK | Dharamsala | 7:30pm |
| May 5 | LSG vs KKR | Lucknow | 7:30pm |
| May 6 | MI vs SRH | Mumbai | 7:30pm |
| May 7 | DC vs RR | Delhi | 7:30pm |
| May 8 | SRH vs LSG | Hyderabad | 7:30pm |
| May 9 | PBKS vs RCB | Dharamsala | 7:30pm |
| May 10 | GT vs CSK | Ahmedabad | 7:30pm |
| May 11 | KKR vs MI | Kolkata | 7:30pm |
| May 12 | CSK vs RR | Chennai | 3:30pm |
| May 12 | RCB vs DC | Bengaluru | 7:30pm |
| May 13 | GT vs KKR | Ahmedabad | 7:30pm |
| May 14 | DC vs LSG | Delhi | 7:30pm |
| May 15 | RR vs PBKS | Guwahati | 7:30pm |
| May 16 | SRH vs GT | Hyderabad | 7:30pm |
| May 17 | MI vs LSG | Mumbai | 7:30pm |
| May 18 | RCB vs CSK | Bengaluru | 7:30pm |
| May 19 | SRH vs PBKS | Hyderabad | 3:30pm |
| May 19 | RR vs KKR | Guwahati | 7:30pm |
| May 21 | IPL Qualifier 1 | Ahmedabad | 7:30pm |
| May 22 | IPL Eliminator | Ahmedabad | 7:30pm |
| May 24 | IPL Qualifier 2 | Chennai | 7:30pm |
| May 26 | IPL Final | Chennai | 7:30pm |
