Punjab Kings beat Delhi Capitals by 31 runs in Match No. 59 of the IPL 2023, which took place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Saturday (May 13), to keep their hopes alive of reaching the IPL 2023 playoffs. By securing two points in the national capital, the Shikhar Dhawan-led side moved to the No. 6 position in the IPL 2023 points table. They have spiced up the top four race, and still nine teams are in the fray because a defeat against PBKS at home has knocked the Delhi Capitals out of the tournament

The Delhi Capitals side lie at the bottom of the IPL 2023 points table with 8 points from 12 matches, and the maximum they can reach is 12 points, but with four teams already securing 13 or more points, there was no way in which DC would have progressed.

PBKS’ win has now further hurt the chances of Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Sunrisers Hyderabad to reach the last four.

GT sit at the top with 16 points, and their fate is in their own hands. If they win any of the last two matches, they will make it to the playoffs, irrespective of other results.

MI is in third place with 14 points from 12 matches, and if they manage to win both of their remaining matches, they will progress. One win and one defeat can bring the equation down to net run rate as four teams—LSG, RCB, PBKS, and RR—can match their tally of 16 points in that case, whereas a defeat in the last two matches, which are against LSG and SRH, can knock them out as well.

LSG have 13 points from 12 matches at present, and two wins in the last two matches will guarantee them a spot in the last four. But if they lose even one game, they can get knocked out.

Royals have 12 points from 12 matches, and they can reach the maximum of 16 from 14 league stage matches if they win the last two fixtures. But that won’t even guarantee them a qualification. They have to remain dependent on the results of other matches.

The equation of SRH is like that of KKR. They must win their last three matches by a big margin and hope RR, PBKS, RCB, and KKR do not win more than one game out of the last two.

The situation of RCB is also exactly like that of RR and PBKS. A win in the last three matches is a must for them, as are some favourable results from other matches as well.

Tags :IPL 2023 playoff scenarioIPL 2023 PlayoffsDelhi CapitalsRajasthan Royals